tihvary  of t^he  theological  ^^minavy 

PRINXETON    •    NEW  JERSEY 
PRESENTED  BY 


A.    G.    Cameron,    Ph.D. 
5.18.11 


O 


^:?61 


/ 


AN 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH 


OF  THE 


COLLEGE  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


vf T  \Vi  1 «.  \  O  "A      ^  "^ 


Prodesse  QLiani.  Conspici." 


PHILADELPHIA  : 

JOSEPH    M.    WILSON, 

No.  Ill  South  Tenth  Street,  below  Chestnut  Street. 

1859. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1859,  by 

JOSEPH  M.  WILSON, 

m  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Eastern  District  of 

Pennsylvania. 

STEREOTYPED   BV 

JESPER  HARDING  &  SON, 

INaUIKER  BUH-DING,    SODTH   THIRD   6TKEET,  PIIIU. 


.A.  Ij  xj  nvL  ]sr  I 

OF   THE 

COLLEGE     OF    NEW    JERSEY, 
THIS    HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

OF   THEIR 

A  L  ]M  A     MATER 

IS 

RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED. 


PEEFACE. 


The  want  of  a  connected  historical  account  of  the  rise  and  pro- 
gress of  the  College  of  New  Jersey  has  long  been  experienced, 
especially  by  the  Alumni  and  those  interested  in  her  welfare.  The 
following  pages  were  written  with  the  design  of  supplying  this  want ; 
though,  from  the  limited  plan  originally  adopted,  it  was  impossible  to  go 
into  all  the  details  that  might  be  desired,  but  all  sources  of  information 
have  been  fully  explored ;  and  it  is  also  proper  to  state,  that  all  infor- 
mation upon  the  subject,  from  whatever  source,  has  been  freely  used. 
The  design  was  to  arrange  and  connect  facts  hitherto  separated. 
Should  the  friends  of  Nassau  Hall,  by  the  perusal  of  these  pages, 
and  by  the  contemplation  of  her  former  successful  career,  be  led  to 
rally  more  heartily  around  her,  and  to  uphold  her  in  her  glorious 
work,  the  writer's  time  will  not  be  considered  as  spent  in  vain. 


AN 


HISTOEICAL   SKETCH 


COLLEGE  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


The  College  of  New  Jersey  traces  its  origin  to  the  great  schism 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  America,  Avhich  took  place  in  1741. 

In  that  year  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia,  owing  to  grievances,  dissat- 
isfactions, and  misunderstandings,  was  divided  ;  the  excluded  brethren 
forming  themselves  into  two  Presbyteries,  that  of  Londonderry  and 
that  of  New  Brunswick. 

They  determined  to  meet  subsequently  as  a  Synod  every  year. 
They,  however,  did  not  assume  the  title  of  Synod  till  joined  by  the 
Presbytery  of  New  York ;  when,  imder  the  name  of  the  Synod  of 
New  York,  they  met  for  the  i&rst  time  at  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey, 
September  19th,  1745. 

As  the  question  of  an  unconverted  ministry  and  disagreement  in 
reference  to  candidates,  were  a  chief  cause  of  the  schism,  it  was  na- 
tural that  each  body  should  make  vigorous  efforts  for  the  education 
and  introduction  of  unexceptionable  men  into  the  sacred  office.  Two 
motives  actuated  them  in  this  course,  viz  :  the  desire  to  extend  the 
knowledge  of  the  gospel,  and  the  less  praiseworthy  one  of  party, 
which  induced  each  to  vie  with  the  other  in  efforts  to  establish  and 
strengthen  itself. 

The  Synod  of  New  York,  from  its  position,  having  all  the  territory 
east  of  the  Delaware,  from  its  superiority  in  numbers  and  in  zeal, 
and  from  the  readiness  with  which  it  obtained  additions  to  its  ministry, 
as  well  as  from  the  character  of  its  people,  held  a  decided  preeminence 
over  the  other  body.  New  Jersey,  besides  being  under  its  jurisdic- 
tion, was  the  residence  of  some  of  its  principal  supporters ;  and  here, 
where  the  views  of  Presbyteries  were  extensively  and  popularly  re- 
ceived, it  was  deemed  best  to  establish  an  institution,  whose  great  object 
should  be  to  qualify  and  send  out  able  men  as  ministers  of  the  gos- 
pel. Accordingly  a  strenuous  effort  was  put  forth  to  carry  out  this 
design ;  not,  however,  without  considerable  opposition  from  the  court 
'party,  and  from  members  of  other  denominations. 

But  '■'•  Perseverantia  omnia  vincif  was  the  watchword  ;  the  members 
of  the  Synod  saw  the  need  of  such  an  institution,  and  the  good  that 
would  ultimately  accrue  to  the  church  and  nation  from  it ;  with  com- 
mendable energy,  therefore,  they  undertook  the  task,  and  Nassau's 

(9) 


10  HISTORICAL    SKETCH    OF   THE 

hoary  walls  still  remain  as  monuments  of  the  indomitable  zeal,  perse- 
verance, and  courage  of  her  pious  founders. 

It  is  highly  probable  that  the  treatment  David  Brainerd  received  at 
the  hands  of  the  officers  of  Yale  College,  stimulated  his  friends,  among 
whom  were  Messrs.  Dickinson  and  Burr,  who  were  strongly  attached 
to  him,  to  erect  a  college  of  their  own ;  indeed  it  is  related  that  Mr. 
Burr  said : — "  If  it  had  not  been  for  the  treatment  received  by 
Mr.  Brainerd  at  Yale,  New  Jersey  College  would  never  have  been 
erected."  - 

The  Log  College  on  the  plains  of  Neshaminy  in  Pennsylvania,  may 
be  referred  to  as  possessing  some  interest  in  its  connection  with  the 
College  of  New  Jersey.  Established  by  Rev.  "William  Tennent,  an 
immigrant  from  the  North  of  Ireland,  it  had  educated  many  of.  those 
who  were  now  anxious  and  laboring  to  found  a  similar  institution, 
but  on  a  more  extended  scale. 

The  humble  cabin  in  which  many  of  them  were  prepared  for  the 
ministry,  around  which  many  tender  associations  centered,  was  now 
crumbling  into  ruins ;  it  had  performed  its  work,  but  its  cherished 
friends,  the  Tennents,  Blairs,  Finley,  Smith,  Rogers,  Davies,  Dickin- 
son, and  BuiT,  unwilling- that  its  memory  should  perish,  resolved  that 
it  should  be  continued,  and  that  in  the  Province  of  New  Jersey,  an 
edifice  should  be  erected,  surpassing  the  lowly  ctibin  of  Neshaminy, 
whose  influence  for  good  to  the  church  and  the  world  might  be  felt 
and  acknowledged  through  ages  yet  to  come. 

Influenced  by  such  considerations,  and  incited  by  such  motives,  the 
Synod  of  New  York,  after  much  difficulty  and  opposition,  obtained  a 
charter  from  President  Hamilton,  which,  if  recorded,  cannot  now  be 
found ;  all  that  remains  in  regard  to  it  is  the  following : — 
Mem.  of  A  charter  to  incorporate  sundry  persons  to  found  a  colledge, 
for^a'ca-  passed  the  great  seal  of  this  Province  of  New  Jersey,  tested  by 
ledge.  John  Hamilton,  Esq.,  President  of  His  Majesty's  Council,  and 
Commander  in  Chief  of  the  Province  of  New  Jersey,  the  22d  October, 
174G. 

It  has  been  conjectured  that  the  first  charter  from  President  Ham- 
ilton was  not  recorded,  owing  to  the  hope  entertained  of  subsequently 
obtaining  a  more  liberal  one.  Be  this  as  it  may,  under  the  first  char- 
ter the  institution  was  commenced  in  Elizabethtown,  and  Rev.  Jona- 
than Dickinson  appointed  the  first  President.  Who  the  trustees  Avere 
under  the  first  charter,  or  in  what  manner  Mr.  Dickinson  was  ap- 
pointed President,  is  unknoAvn ;  probably  he  was  better  qualified  to 
teach  than  others  of  his  brethren,  and  had  been  in  the  habit  of  receiv- 
ing pupils  into  his  family,  as  no  public  buildings  had  been  provided 
for  the  students  while  he  lived.  It  is  supposed  that  the  number  of 
students  at  the  time  of  his  decease  was  about  twenty.  To  his  duties 
as  teacher,  he  joined  the  practice  of  medicine,  though  it  is  likely  he 
was  assisted  by  a  tutor  in  the  instruction  of  his  pupils.  He  died  in 
Elizabethtown,  October  7tli,  1747. 

The  building  in  which  the  students  were  instructed,  and  which 
proved  an  embryo  college,  is  said  to  have  been  contiguous  to  the 
Eirst  Presbyterian  Church  in  that  place,  and  the  foundation  walls  are 


COLLEGE   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  11 

Still  pointed  out  as  the  original  basis  of  the  novr  flourishing  Nassau 
Hall. 

,  At  the  time  of  his  decease  the  school  was  removed  to  Newark,  and 
entrusted  to  the  care  of  Rev.  Aaron  Burr.  It  is  also  uncertain  in 
what  way  he  was  appointed  to  the  Presidency  now  left  vacant  by  the 
death  of  ]Mr.  Dickinson  ;  but  from  his  being  for  a  year  or  more  en- 
gaged in  the  superintendence  and  instruction  of  youth,  it  is  probable 
that  he  was  in  some  way  connected  with  the  institution,  previous  to 
its  removal  to  Newark.  On  the  day  of  his  election  to  the  Presidency, 
a  class  was  ready  for  graduation,  and  under  the  charter  of  Governor 
Belcher  he  conferred  tlie  degree  of  A.  B.  upon  the  following  gentle- 
men, viz :  Enos  Ayres,  Israel  Read,  Benjamin  Chesnut,  Richard  Stock- 
ton, Hugh  Henry,  Daniel  Thane. 

The  enlargement  of  the  college  charter  by  Governor  Belcher  took 
place  about  this  time.  The  present  charter  was  granted  September 
14th,  1748.  At  a  meeting  held  at  New  Brunswick  by  the  trustees, 
on  the  13th  October  following,  they  voted  an  address  to  Governor 
Belcher  whom  they  considered  as  the  patron  and  foumler  of  the  insti- 
tution. In  the  minutes  of  the  Trustees  of  the  College,  the  charter  is 
the  first  entry  made  ;  the  next  is  the  following  extract : — 

"  On  Thursday,  October  13th,  1748,  convened  at  New  Brunswick — 
James  Hude,  Andrew  Johnson,  Thomas  Leonard,  Esq'rs';  Messrs. 
John  Pierson,  Ebenezer  Pemberton,  Joseph  Lamb,  William  Tennent, 
Richard  Treat,  David  Cowell,  Aaron  Burr,  Timothy  Jones,  Thomas 
Arthur,  ministers  of  the  gospel ;  William  P.  Smith,  Gent. ;  thirteen 
of  those  nominated  in  the  charter  to  be  trustees  of  the  College ;  who 
having  accepted  the  charter,  were  qualified  and  incorporated  according 
to  the  directions  thereof ;  and  being  a  quorum  of  the  corporation,  pro- 
ceeded, as  the  charter  directs,  to  choose  a  clerk. 

"  Thomas  Arthur  chosen  clerk  of  the  coi-poration.  Voted,  that  an 
address  be  made  to  the  Governor,  to  thank  his  Excellency  for  the 
grant  of  the  charter  ;  and  that  at  least  one  of  our  number  be  appointed" 
to  wait  on  his  Excellency  and  present  the  same. 

"  An  address  being  drawn  up  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Burr,  was  read  and 
approved. 

"  Ordered,  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cowell  wait  upon  his  Excellency  and 
present  the  address  to  him. 

"  Ordered,  that  a  copy  of  the  address  be  taken  by  the  clerks  and  in- 
serted in  the  minutes. 

"To  his  Excellency  Jonathan  Belcher,  Esq.,  Captain  General  and 
Governor  in  Chief  of  the  Province  of  New  Jersey,  and  territories 
thereon  depending  in  America,  and  Vice-Admiral  of  the  same :  The 
humlile  address  of  the  Trustees  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey : 

"  May  it  please  your  Excellency  : — 

^^'e  liave  often  adored  that  wise  and  gracious  Providence  which  has  placed  your 
Excellency  in  the  chief  seat  of  government  in  this  province  ;  and  have  taken  our  part 
with  multitudes  in  congratulating  New  Jersey  upon  that  occasion. 

Your  long  known  and  well  approved  friendship  to  religion  and  learning  left  us  no 
room  to  doubt  your  doing  all  that  lay  in  your  power,  to  promote  so  valuable  a  cause 
in  these  parts  ;  and  upon  thi^s  head  our  most  raised  expectations  have  been  abundantly 
answered.     We  do,  therefore,  cheerfully  embrace  this  opportunity  of  paying  our  most 


12  HISTORICAL   SKETCH    OF   THE 

siucere  and  grateful  acknowledgments  to  your  Excellency,  for  granting  so  ample  and 
•well  contrived  a  cliarter  for  erecting  a  seminary  of  learning  in  this  province,  -which  has 
been  so  much  wanted  and  so  long  desired.  And  as  it  has  pleased  your  Excellency  to 
intrust  us  with  so  important  a  charge,  it  shall  be  our  study  and  care  to  approve  our- 
selves worthy  the  great  confidence  you  have  placed  in  us,  by  doing  our  utmost  to  pro- 
mole  so  noble  a  design.  And  since  we  have  your  Excellency  to  direct  and  assist  us 
in  this  important  and  difficult  undertaking,  we  shall  engage  in  it  with  the  more  free- 
dom and  cheerfulness  ;  not  doubting  but  by  the  smiles  of  Heaven,  under  your  protec- 
tion, it  may  prove  a  flourishing  seminary,  of  piety  and  good  literature  ;  and  continue 
not  only  a  perpetual  monument  of  honour  to  your  name,  above  the  victories  and  tri- 
umphs of  renowned  conquerors,  but  a  lasting  foundation  for  the  future  prosperity  of 
Church  and  State.  'J'hat  your  Excellency  may  long  live  a  blessing  to  this  province, 
an  ornament  and  support  to  our  infant  college, — that  you  may  see  your  generous  de- 
siijns  for  the  public  good  take  their  desired  effect,  and  at  last  receive  a  crown  of 
glory  that  fadeth  not  away,  is  and  shall  be  our  constant  prayer. 

By  order  of  the  trustees, 

Thomas  Arthur,  Cl.  Cor. 

New  Brunswick,  October  IWi,  1748. 

To  this  address  the  Governor  returned  his  hearty  thanks,  assuring 
them  of  the  pleasure  it  gave  him  to  be  placed  at  the  head  of  govern- 
ment, of  his  desire  to  promote  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  of  his  willing- 
ness to  take  the  college  under  his  protection  and  make  it  '  A  semi- 
nary of  true  religion  and  good  literature.'  On  the  9th  November, 
following,  the  trustees  met  at  Newark,  there  being  present  his  Excel- 
lency, Governor  Belcher,  Esq.,  James  Hude,  Thomas  Leonard,  Wil- 
liam Smith,  Esq'rs,  Peter  V.  B.  Livingston,  William  P.  Smith,  Samuel 
Hazard,  Gent.,  and  John  Pierson,  Joseph  Lamb,  Aaron  Burr,  Richard 
Treat,  Samuel  Blair,  William  Tennent,  David  Cowell,  Tim.  Jones, 
Jacob  Green,  Thomas  Arthur,  ministers  of  the  gospel. 

At  this  meeting  Rev.  Aaron  Burr  was  unanimously  chosen  to  the 
Presidency  of  the  college.  The  vote  being  made  known  to  him,  he 
accepted  the  office,  and  took  the  oath  required  by  the  charter.  In 
the  afternoon  he  delivered  a  Latin  oration,  and  after  the  usual  schol- 
astic disputations,  the  gentlemen  previously  mentioned  were  admitted 
to  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  After  this  the  degree  of  Master 
of  Arts  was  conferred  upon  Governor  Belcher ;  this  Avas  followed  by 
a  salutatory  oration  by  Mr.  Thane ;  the  President  concluding  the 
meeting  with  prayer.  At  a  meeting  in  the  evening  it  was  voted  that 
the  anniversary  commencement  be  held  in  future  on  the  last  Wednes- 
day in  September,  and  the  next  one  at  New  Brunswick.  Hon.  An- 
drew Johnson  was  appointed  treasurer.  It  was  also  voted  that  all 
diplomas  and  certificates  of  degrees,  should  be  signed  by  the  President 
and  at  least  six  trustees ;  that  the  trustees  should  use  their  utmost  en- 
deavours to  obtain  benefactions  for  the  college,  and  besides  these,  the 
following  gentlemen  were  appointed  to  receive  subscriptions,  viz : 
Messrs.  Kinsey  and  Hazard  at  Philadelphia ;  P.  Van  Brugh  Living- 
ston and  P.  Smith  at  New  York ;  Read  and  Smith  at  Burlington ; 
Read  and  Cowell  at  Trenton ;  John  Stevens  at  Amboy ;  Samuel 
Woodruff  at  Elizabothtown ;  Thomas  Leonard  and  John  Stockton, 
Esq.,  at  Princeton ;  James  Hude,  Esq.,  and  Thomas  Arthur  at  New 
Brunswick  ;  Henderson  and  Furman  at  Freehold ;  John  Piersou  at 
Wootjbridge  ;  and  Mayor  Johnson  at  Newark. 


COLLEGE   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  '         13 

Resolving  to  meet  on  the  third  Thursday  in  May  next,  at  Maiden- 
head, Mr.  Tennent  concluded  the  meeting  with  prayer." 

Thus  it  seems  the  trustees  obtained  a  charter,  granting  all  desired 
and  necessary  powers,  but  owing  to  the  want  of  funds  were  unable  to 
do  anything  on  an  extensive  scale.  Their  abilities  to  build  up  the 
infant  institution,  were  far  from  being  commensurate  with  their  most 
earnest  wishes  and  prayers ;  indeed  so  limited  were  their  resources, 
that  some  began  to  look  upon  the  undertaking  as  a  wild  and  useless 
scheme;  but  not  so  with  those  engaged  in  the  work.  They  trusted 
in  the  favour  of  those  who  had  encouraged  the  enterprise,  in  the  bene- 
ficence of  the  friends  and  advocates  of  sound  learning,  and  above  all 
in  the  over-ruling  hand  of  Him  in  whose  name  and  for  whose  glory 
the  whole  plan  had  been  conceived  and  carried  out.  Althou'gh  many 
responded  liberally  to  the  call  addressed  to  them  by  the  1:rustees, 
still  it  was  found  impossible  to  accomplish  the  original  desio-n  with  the 
present  limited  means ;  accordingly  in  this  emergency  it  %-as  deter- 
mined to  appeal  to  the  mother  country  for  aid  in  the  great  work. 
The  President  was  urgently  requested  to  visit  Great  Britain  on  this 
errand,  but  owing  to  some  reasons,  among  which  was  his  recent  mar- 
riage, he  declined. 

In  1751,  some  of  the  trustees  desired  Rev.  Samuel  Davies  to  under- 
take the  journey  to  England  and  Ireland  for  the  purpose  of  "  repre- 
senting the  affair,"  and  obtaining  contributions  for  the  college.  At 
first  he  totally  declined,  but  upon  the  trustees  agreeing  to  "support 
his  family  and  supply  his  pulpit  during  his  absence,  he  consented  to 
go.  The  Rev.  Gilbert  Tennent  having  about  this  time  lost  both  his 
wife  and  mother,  and  being  thus  deprived  of  his  family,  consented  to 
accompany  Mr.  Davies  on  the  anticipated  mission.  They  set  sail  No- 
vember 17th,  1753,  and  reached  London,  December  25th.  On  their 
arrival  Whitefield  invited  them  to  stay  with  him,  showed  much  favour 
towards  the  object  of  their  journey,  and  remarked  that  they  should 
"come  out  boldly;  for  this  would  secure  the  afi'ections  of  the  pious, 
from  whom  we  might  expect  the  most  generous  contributions."  A 
recommendation  of  their  object  was  subscribed  by  sixty-seven  minis- 
ters, comprising  Baptists,  Presbyterians,  and  Independents  :  and  while 
laboring  to  secure  their  good  will  and  co-operation,  they  obtained 
two  hundred  pounds.  They  then  had  copies  of  their  petition  printed, 
to  be  distributed  among  the  friends  of  the  cause,  and  before  the  sev- 
enth of  May  their  subscriptions  amounted  to  seventeen  hundred  pounds. 
Fifty  pounds  were  given  by  a  churchman,  William  Belcher,  Esq.; 
and  Mr._  Cromwell,  a  great-grandson  of  the  Protector,  on  hearing 
Mr.  Davies  preach,  came  to  him,  and  thanking  him  with  tears,  gave 
him  three  guineas.  On  visiting  Edinburgh  they  secured  an  'order 
fi-om  the  Assembly  for  a  national  collection,  through  the  recommenda- 
tion of  the  Committee  of  Bills ;  a  letter  in  their  favour  was  also  published 
by  the_  Scottish  Society  for  propagating  Christian  knowledge.  They 
also  visited  Glasgow,  and  were  hospitably  received.  Mi\  Tennent 
subsequently  crossed  over  to  Ireland  and  obtained  over  five  hundred 
pounds ;  while  Mr.  Davies  at  Newcastle  received  from  Lord  Ravens- 
worth,    three    guineas  ;    from    James    Bowes,    Esq.,    five    pounds ; 


14  msTomcAL  sketch  of  the 

from  tlie  Bishop  of  Durham,  fire  ^lineas ;  from  Aldennan  Hankey, 
of  London,  five  pounds ;  Samuel  liuggles,  Esq.,  of  Bramtree,  pro- 
mised thirty,  but  gave  fifty  pounds.  Their  mission  was  very  success- 
ful, as  under  the  date  of  April  7th,  1754,  they  state  that  about  twelve 
hundred  pounds  had  already  been  collected.  On  November  loth,  they 
sailed,  and  reached  York  in  Virginia,  February  13th,  1755. 

At  this  time  the  students  were  scattered  in  private  lodgings  in  the 
town  of  Newark,  and  the  public  academic  exercises  held  in  the  county 
court-house.  To  this  time  also,  (Feb.  1757,)  is  referred  a  most  extra- 
ordinary revival  of  religion  in  the  college.  Mr.  G.  Tennent  Avas  de- 
sired to  come  and  witness  it,  which  he  did,  and  bore  evidence  to  the 
Avork  of  divine  power  among  the  students. 

We  now  return  a  little  to  note  some  preliminaries  to  the  jDcrmanent 
location  of  Nassau  Hall  at  Princeton. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  trustees  held  in  Newark,  September  27,  1752, 
being  the  anniversary  of  the  commencement.  Governor  Belcher  in  his 
address  urged  the  necessity  of  a  college  edifice  being  erected  for  the 
accoii]modation  of  the  students,  and  a  house  for  the  President  and  his 
family,  as  the  number  of  students  and  prosperity  of  the  undertaking 
demanded  them.  From  the  minutes  it  appears  that  the  trustees 
made  overtures  to  the  people  of  New  Brunswick,  to  establish  the  col- 
lege in  that  place,  but  they  neglecting  to  reply  in  time,  it  was  voted 
that  the  college  be  "fixed"  in  Princeton,  about  midway  between 
New  York  and  Philadelphia,  upon  condition  that  its  inhabitants 
would  secure  to  the  trustees  two  hundred  acres  of  woodland,  ten 
acres  of  cleared  land,  and  one  thousand  pounds  proc.  money;  that 
one  half  of  this  be  paid  in  two  months  after  the  foundation  was  laid, 
and  the  other  half  in  six  months  afterwards  ;  that  they  should  give 
bonds  for  the  money,  and  a  title  for  the  land;  a  bond  also  being 
given  by  the  trustees  for  the  fulfilment  of  their  part  of  the  agreement. 
The  trustees  then  appointed  the  following  committee  to  transact  this 
affair  with  the  residents  of  Princeton,  viz :  Messrs.  President  Burr, 
Samuel  Woodruff,  Jonathan  Sergeant,  Elihu  Spencer,  and  Caleb  Smith. 
This  committee  having  performed  the  duty  assigned  them,  and  the 
people  of  Princeton  having  complied  with  the  terms  proposed,  Messrs. 
Cowell  and  Hazard  were  appointed  to  get  a  deed  for  the  land.  Adja- 
cent to  seven  acres  given  the  college,  the  trustees  agreed  to  purchase 
ten  more  from  Mr.  Horner,  and  ordered  the  treasurer  to  pay  fifty 
pounds  proc.  in  two  months,  and  fifty  pounds  in  a  year  afterwards ; 
provided  Mr.  Horner  would  give  a  "well  executed  deed"  for  it.  Mr. 
Cowell  Avas  appointed  to  superintend  the  surveying  thereof,  and  re- 
ceive the  deed.  They  appointed  also  the  folloAving  building  commit- 
tee, viz :  Thomas  Leonard,  Esq.,  Samuel  Woodruff",  Esq.,  Messrs. 
Cowell,  William  Tennent,  Burr,  Treat,  Brainerd,  and  Smith,  to  act 
for  the  trustees  in  erecting  the  college,  and  also  a  house  for  the  Presi- 
dent. They  also  voted,  in  Princeton,  July  22, 1754,  that  the  founda- 
tion be  laid  immediately ;  that  the  plan  proposed  by  Doct.  Shippen 
and  Mr.  Robert  Smith  be,  in  general,  the  plan  of  the  college  ;  that 
the  college  be  built  of  brick,  (it  is  built  of  stone,)  if  they  could  be  ob- 
tained in  Princeton ;  that  it  be  three  stories  high,  without  a  cellar ; 


COLLEGE   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  15 

S 
and  that  Messrs.  Samuel  Hazard  and  Robert  Smith  select  the  spot 
for  the  building  and  mark  out  the  ground.  At  a  meeting  held  in 
Newark,  September  25,  1754,  it  was  voted  that  the  college  be  built  of 
stone,  and  the  President's  house  of  wood;  only  the  former  part  of 
this  w:is  earned  into  effect,  the  President's  house  being  constructed 
of  brick.  * 

In  1755,  Governor  Belcher  donated  his  library,  consisting  of  474 
volumes,  many  of  them  being  very  valuable,  to  the  college  ;  some  of 
tliese  were  purloined  by  the  American  and  British   armies  durino-  the 
Kevolution,  being  taken  by  the  troops  of  Cornwallis  as  far  as  North 
Carolina,  and  afterwards  found  there  ;  he  also  gave  a  full-lenrrth  pic- 
ture of  himself,  a  pair  of  globes,  ten  pictm-es,  being  the  heads^  of  the 
Amgs  and  Queens  of  England,  and  a  large  carved,  gilded  coat  of 
arms.     1  or  this  grant  the  trustees  presented  him  an  address,  expres- 
sing their  liveliest  sentiments  of  gratitude  for  the  fovour  and  zeal  he 
had  shown  towards  the  institution,  for  the  recommendations   he  had 
made  of  it  m  Great  Britain,  and  for  the  donation  recently  made   re- 
questing, that  as  he  Avas  considered  the  "  founder,  patron,  and  bene- 
factor" of  the  college,  the  edifice  in  Princeton  be  called,  and  hereafter 
known  as  Belcher  Hall.     To  this  be  returned  an  answer  which  was 
read  at  the  meeting  of  trustees  in  Newark,  September  29th,  1756     In 
this  reply    after  thanking  them  for  the  address,  giving  praise  and 
thanks  to  God  for  the  establishment  and  encouragement  of  the  colleo-e 
and  assimng  them  of  the  interest  he  should  ever  have  in  it  he  p?o- 
ceeds : —  ■  ^ 

"  I  take  a  particular  grateful  notice,  of  the  respect  and   honor  you 
are  desirous  of  domg  me  and  my  family,  in  calling  the  edifice  lately 
erected  m  Princeton  by  the  name  of  Belcher  Hall ;  but  you  will  be 
so  good  as  to  excuse  me,  while  I  absolutely  decline  such  an  honor  for 
I  have  always  been  very  fond  of  the  motto  of  a  late  great  persona o-e 
J^rodesse  quam  conspicL     But  I  must  not  leave  this  head  without  ask- 
ing the  honor  of  your  naming  the  present  building  Nassau  Hall  ; 
and  this  I  hope  you  will  take  as  a  further  instance  of  my  real  regard 
to  the  future  welfare  and  interest  of  the  college,  as  it  will  express  the 
honor  we  retain,  in  this  remote  part  of  the  globe,  to  the  immortal 
memory  of  the  glorious  King  William  the  Third,  who  was  a  branch  of 
the  illustrious  house  of  Nassau,  and  who,  under  God,  was  the  great 
deliverer  of  the  British  nation,  from  those  two  monstrous  furies.  Popery 
and  Slavery." 

It  is  gratifying  to  see  such  a  manly  expression  of  sentiment  in  re- 
gard to  that  system  of  iniquity  which  has  so  long  held  so  many  in 
worse  than  Egyptian  bondage.  He  understood  and  fearlessly  declared 
the  abominations  of  that  system  of  Romanism  which  still  raises  its 
hydra  head  on  the  free  and  blood-bought  land  of  Columbia;  and  one 
cannot  but  compare  his  bold  Protestant  course  with  the  carelessness  or 
unwillingness  ot  public  men  in  the  present  day  to  say  anything  on  this 
subject.  He  knew  the  great  truth,  which  in  modern  times  is  foro-otten 
or  at  least  very  seldom  mentioned,  that  true  liberty,  in  every  sense  of 
the  word,  could  not  subsist  with  popery  ;  he  knew  that  while  the  Man 
ot  sm  and  Son  of  perdition,  who  opposeth  and  exalteth  himself  above 


16  HISTORICAL   SKETCH   OP   THE 

all  tliat  is  called  God  or  is  worshipped ;  that  while  that  Wicked  ex- 
isted, whom  the  Lord  shall  consume  with  the  spirit  of  his  mouth  and 
destroy  with  the  brightness  of  his  coming,  nothing  but  abject  slavery 
of  mind  and  conscience  would  be  the  inheritance  of  men.  What  would 
he  have  thought  had  he  known  that  in  a  century  from  his  time,  men  in 
Ills  own  province  would  not  care  or  da?'e  to  say  aught  against  the  vile 
svstem  of  bastard  Christianity  which  he  detested  ;  that  whenever  they 
did  venture  to  say  anything  on  the  subject  it  was  either  done  anony- 
mously or  over  an  assumed  signature  in  a  public  newspaper ;  and  that 
the  plan  of  false  religion  which  has  committed  thousands  to  the  flames, 
and  wiiose  baleful  influence  he  hoped  to  see  counteracted  by  the  valiant 
sons  of  Protestant  Nassau — what,  I  say,  would  he  have  thouglit  had 
he  known  that  in  1859,  that  same  false  religion  would  be  established 
in  the  land,  and  be  flourishing  like  a  green  bay  tree  ?  What  would 
have  been  his  emotions  had  he  known  that,  on  the  23d  December  1858, 
the  senate  chamber  of  the  American  nation  would  be  prostituted  by 
the  services  of  Romanism,  and  the-  chief  council  of  the  land  directed 
by  a  form  of  worship  connected  with  a  church  which  nearly  all  Protes- 
tants acknowledge  is  idolatrous,  and  which  in  apocalyptic  vision  is 
branded  as  the  Great  Whore  ? 

The  sons  of  Nassau  should  remember  this  ;  that  their  Alma  Mater 
being  herself  grounded  and  settled  in  Protestant  principles  expects 
her  cliildren  to  uphold  the  same  ;  that  all  proper  and  lawful  means 
should  be  employed  for  arresting  "the  monstrous  fury.  Popery;"  that 
tlie  doctrines  and  dogmas  of  the  man  of  sin  are  gaining  ground  ;  that 
there  is  a  viper  stealthily  advancing  whose  poison  will  prove  most  fatal, 
whose  slimy  coils  around  the  body  politic  are  increasing  and  strength- 
ening every  day,  and  which  it  will  prove  well  nigh  a  death-struggle  to 
remove.  Let  them  never  forget,  especially  those  just  entering  the 
battle  of  life,  that  as  recruits  in  that  army  they  must  take  a  position, 
and  whether  that  position  shall  be  a  conspicuous  and  elevated  one  for 
the  cause  of  truth,  rests  in  a  great  measure  with  themselves  ;  let  their 
first  aim  be  to  plant  the  banner  of  truth  where  ignorance  and  super- 
stition now  prevail ;  let  them  learn  to  baffle  the  wiles  of  the  crafty  ad- 
versary, all  the  more  insidious  and  dangerous  because  of  his  noiseless 
approach  and  consequent  inattention  of  the  watchman  ;  let  them  be 
assured  of  this  one  thing,  that  while  the  Infinite  Source  of  all  truth 
exists,  while  his  providence  ever  favors  its  development  and  dispersion, 
and  till  time  itself  shall  be  no  more,  "  Magna  est  Veritas  et  prieva- 
lebit." 

In  consequence  of  Governor  Belcher's  declining  to  have  the  college 
named  after  himself,  the  trustees  voted  that,  "  the  said  edifice  be,  in 
all  time  to  come,  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Nassau  Hall."- 
Owing  to  the  liberal  aid  derived  from  the  mother  country,  the  trustees 
were  enabled  to  proceed  rapidly  in  the  erection  of  the  necessary  build- 
ing, which  being  nearly  completed,  "  and  considered  as  sacred  to  lib- 
erty and  revolution  principles,  was  denominated  Nassau  Hall."  The 
building  could  accommodate  about  147  students,  allowing  three  to  each 
room.  These  were  20  feet  square,  each  of  them  having  two  bedrooms 
adjoining.     There  Avas  also  a  hall  nearly  40  feet  square,  with  a  gallery 


COLLEGE  OF   NEW   JERSEY.  17 

in  it ;  here  was  an  organ,  obtained  by  voluntary  contribution  ;  oppo- 
site this  a  rostrum  was  erected  for  the  speakers  at  the  public  exhibi- 
tions. On  one  side  of  the  hall  hung  a  full-length  portrait  of  the  king, 
and  opposite  it  a  similarly  sized  one  of  Governor  Belcher,  surmounted 
by  his  coat  of  arms,  carved  and  gilded  ;  both  having  been  bestowed 
by  the  latter.  The  library  was  on  the  second  floor,  and  was  a  large 
room,  containing  in  1764  about  1200  volumes,  all  of  which  were  be- 
stowed by  the  friends  of  the  institution  in  Euroj^e  and  America.  On 
the  first  floor  was  a  dining  room  suitable  for  the  accommodation  of  all 
the  students,  besides  apartments  for  the  kitchen,  &:c.  The  building 
was  constructed  of  stone,  and  considered  the  best  arranged  edifice  for 
a  college  in  North  America.  It  was  so  far  complete  in  1757,  that  the 
students  could  be  provided  for  in  it ;  this  being  the  case,  they,  to  the 
number  of  about  70,  left  Newark  and  took  up  their  residence  in 
Princeton. 

The  trustees  now  began  to  see  the  great  advantage  of  having  a 
building  exclusively  for  the  use  of  the  students  ;  and  the  circumstances 
of  the  college  soon  began  to  be  in  a  most  prosperous  condition.  The 
number  of  students  rapidly  increased,  the  administration  of  law  and 
government  was  ably  maintained,  and  from  the  position  and  influence 
of  men  who  had  been  educated  within  her  walls,  Nassau  Hall  be- 
gan to  assume  that  importance  in  the  country  which  she  has  so  ably 
sustained  till  the  present  time.  President  Burr  took  upon  himself 
chiefly  the  labor  of  instruction,  being  sometimes  aided  by  only  one 
tutor  ;  and  Avhile  the  college  remained  at  Newark,  no  more  than  two 
assistants  were  ever  connected  with  him.  In  addition  to  these  du- 
ties he  superintended  a  grammar  school  during  the  whole  time  of  his 
presidency,  where  students  were  qualified  for  several  classes  in  col- 
lege. After  his  death  the  trustees  took  this  school  under  their  care 
as  being  already  a  part  of  the  institution.  During  Mr.  Burr's  pre- 
sidency all  the  degrees  were  conferred  in  Newark,  except  at  the  sec- 
ond commencement,  which  was  held  in  New  Brunswick ;  and  in  175T 
the  degrees  were  conferred  by  the  Hon.  William  Smith,  Esq.,  Presi- 
dent Burr  having  died  two  days  before  the  commencement. 

Thus  we  see  the  permanent  establishment  of  an  institution  calcula- 
ted to  bless  the  church  and  world,  an  institution  founded  by  the 
strenuous  efibrts  of  a  few  brave  spirits  and  liberal  hearts,  and  destined 
to  be  a  great  luminary,  whence  streams  of  light  should  issue  to  en- 
lighten and  gladden  the  remotest  nations  of  the  earth.  It  is  to  be 
regretted  and  lamented,  but  at  the  same  time  should  be  mentioned, 
that  although  the  influence  of  Governor  Belcher  and  the  popularity 
of  the  trustees  Avera  so  great,  still  all  their  efi"orts  were  fruitless  in 
obtaining  the  patronage  and  favor  of  the  province.  At  this  time  the 
legislature  did  not  and  would  not  do  anything  for  the  infant  organiza- 
tion. The  expenses  of  building,  &c.,  were  met  by  the  funds  collected 
in  Britain  and  Ireland ;  although  it  is  perhaps  unknown  what  the  ex- 
act amount  of  these  benefactions  was.  The  success  of  the  college  was 
so  great  during  Mr.  Burr's  presidency,  that  we  find  Mr.  Clap  urging 
the  establishment  of  a  professorship  of  divinity  in  Yale  College,  so 
that  its  character  for  orthodoxy  might  be  sustained,  and  at  the  same 
3 


18  HISTORICAL    SKETCH   OF   THE 

time  students  might  be  prevented  from  being  draira  away  by  Jersey 
College. 

The  death  of  President  Burr  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  church  and 
world.  Especially  did  the  college  feel  his  loss ;  and  owing  to  the 
death  also  of  Governor  Belcher  nearly  at  the  same  time,  it  was  feared 
that  the  consequence  to  the  college  would  prove  most  disastrous ;  but 
the  great  Disposer  had  directed  otherwise ;  and  although  two  of  its 
pillars  were  suddenly  and  almost  simultaneously  removed,  still  it  stood 
secure  on  its  deep-laid  foundation.  It  is  related  that  the  President's 
death  was  hastened,  if  not  caused,  by  the  eiforts  he  made  to  prepare 
and  preach  the  funeral  sermon  of  Governor  Belcher,  who  died  Au- 
gust 31,  1757.  Mr.  Burr  soon  followed  his  friend,  for  on  the  24th 
September  following,  his  o'wn  tabernacle  returned  to  the  dust,  while 
his  name  was  embalmed  in  Nassau's  walls,  there  to  remain,  as  in  the 
hearts  of  her  sons,  a  cherished  memorial  of  the  friend  of  virtue,  religion, 
and  learning,  of  the  assiduous  and  zealous  patron  of  the  college,  of 
the  patriotic  philanthropist,  and  of  the  minister  of  God. 

Two  days  after -his  death  the  trustees  to  the  number  of  twenty  met 
to  choose  a  successor  to  the  late  venerable  President.  The  Rev. 
Jonathan  Edwards  of  Stockbridge  was  elected  nearly  unanimously. 
They  also  directed  a  letter  to  the  Honorable  the  Commissioners  for 
propagating  the  gospel  among  the  heathen  in  America,  in  the  province 
of  JNIassachusetts,  desiring  that  they  would  release  INIr.  Edwards  from 
his  Indian  congregation  in  Stockbridge,  in  order  to  his  accepting  the 
office.  At  the  same  time  the  sum  of  twenty  pounds  was  ordered  to 
be  paid  Mr.  Edwaiids  for  the  expense  of  removing  his  family  to  Prince- 
ton. A  letter  was  also  sent  to  Mr.  Edwards  in  regard  to  his  accept- 
ing the  presidency ;  this,  together  with  the  earnest  solicitations  of  the 
board  and  the  requests  of  Rev.  Messrs.  Caleb  Smith  and  John  Brain- 
erd,  who  were  sent  to  induce  him  to  accept,  led  him  to  receive  the 
appointment  and  undertake  the  duties  of  the  office  assigned  him.  In 
the  mean  time  Rev.  David  Cowell  was  appointed  President  till  the 
next  meeting  of  trustees,  which  appointment  he  accepted.  It  was  also 
voted  that  he  should  engage  an  usher  for  the  grammar  school ;  and 
at  the  meeting  held  February  16,  1758,  he  was  paid  eleven  pounds 
for  his  services.  At  this  meeting  Mr.  Edwards  was  qualified  as  a 
trustee  of  the  college,  and  took  his  seat  accordingly. 

It  was  voted  that  the  law  re(|uiring  students  to  wear  particular 
habits  be  repealed ;  that  the  President  have  the  care  and  government 
of  the  grammar  school,  and  introduce  Geography,  History,  and  Chron- 
ology, if  he  deemed  it  proper.  This  President's  administration,  how- 
ever, Avas  too  short  to  allow  him  to  do  much,  as  his  presidency  lasted 
only  al)out  two  months ;  his  inauguration  occurring  only  about  five 
weeks  ])reccding  liis  decease.  He  reached  the  college  in  January;  was 
inoculated  for  the  small  pox,  this  disease  being  prevalent  about 
Princeton  at  this  time,  on  the  13th  February,  and  died  on  the  22d 
March  1758.  He  preached  several  times  in  the  college  chapel  with 
great  acceptance ;  but  it  seems  he  did  not  do  anything  in  the  way  of 
teaching,  excepting  the  giving  of  some  questions  in  divinity  to  the 
senior    class :    when   they   came   together   again,    they    were    much 


COLLEGE  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  19 

pleased  and  edified  by  the  light  the  President  threw  upon  the  subject. 
After  his  death  the  trustees  met  April  19th,  1758,  and  ordered  that 
the  treasurer  pay  Mr.  Edwards'  executors  one  hundred  pounds,  being 
his  salary  for  half  a  year.  The  Rev.  James  Lockwood  of  Wethers- 
field,  Conn.,  Avas  elected  to  fill  the  place  of  Mr.  Edwards,  and  Rev. 
Caleb  Smith  appointed  to  act  as  President  till  next  meeting  of  trustees. 
It  seems  however  that  Mr.  Smith  could  not  attend  to  this  duty,  and 
Mr.  Finley  was  appointed  to  preside  till  that  time  in  his  stead.  At 
the  meeting  held  August  16th,  1758,  Francis  Bernard,  Esq.,  Governor 
of  the  province,  being  President  of  the  board,  the  refusal  of  Mr. 
Lockwood  was  received,  and  on  this  being  made  known,  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Davies  of  Virginia  was  duly  elected  President  of  the  college. 
On  the  next  day  it  was  voted  that  Messrs.  Caleb  Smith,  David  Cowell, 
and  Richard  Stockton,  or  any  two  of  them,  be  a  committee  to  remove 
Mr.  Davies  to  Princeton ;  also  that  the  pew  rents  in  the  college  chapel 
be  paid  immediately  to  the  steward  of  the  college,  on  pain  of  tlie  own- 
ers losing  their  seats.  These  pews  were  held  by  the  inhabitants  of 
Princeton,  there  being  no  public  house  of  worship)  in  the  place,  except 
the  college  chapel ;  the  President  being  the  pastor  and  stated  preacher. 
The  board  next  met  September  27th,  1758,  on  the  day  of  the  annual 
commencement.  It  is  not  known  who  conferred  the  degrees — most 
likely  jNIr.  Smith  or  Mr.  Cowell ;  the  bachelor's  degree  was  conferred 
on  eighteen,  and  the  master's  degree  on  seven.  Another  meeting 
was  held  November  22d,  when  a  negative  answer  from  Mr.  Davies 
Avas  received.  On  the  next  day  Rev.  Jacob  Green  was  chosen  to 
serve  till  a  President  could  be  elected,  and  the  government  committed 
to  him.  At  the  meeting  on  May  9th,  1759,  Rev.  Messrs.  Davies  and 
Finley  were  proposed  as  candidates  for  the  presidency,  and  Mr.  Da- 
vies was  again  elected  ;  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Caleb  Smith,  John  Brain- 
erd,  and  Elihu  Spencer  were  appointed  to  meet  the  Synod  of  New 
York  and  Philadelphia,  and  urge  his  dismissal  from  his  congregation, 
in  order  to  his  accepting  the  office  tendered  him.  At  this  meeting 
Mr.  Caleb  Smith  presented  a  plan  of  union  among  the  colleges  in  the 
provinces,  drawn  up  by  President  Clap  of  Yale  College,  which  being 
read  was  referred  for  farther  consideration ;  but  it  seems  that  this 
was  never  revived. 

The  college  was  already  beginning  to  feel  the  want  of  a  President, 
when  !Mr.  Davies  was  elected ;  a  man  celebrated  in  the  province  as  a 
popular  and  eloquent  preacher.  In  a  letter  to  a  friend  he  speaks  of 
the  revival  of  religion  which  seems  to  have  still  been  felt  at  this  time. 
The  religious  concern  was  first  awakened  by  the  son  of  a  "  consider- 
able gentleman"  in  New  York  being  taken  sick  in  the  college  and 
aroused  to  a  sense  of  his  guilt  and  danger.  His  conversation  made 
considerable  impression  on  some  of  the  students,  and  they  communi- 
cated their  feelings  to  others,  till  at  last  the  movement  became  gene- 
ral throughout  the  college  before  the  President  and  others  became  aware 
of  it.  In  consequence  of  his  second  election,  Mr.  Davies  accepted  the 
oflice  of  President ;  he  reached  Princeton  in  July,  entered  upon  his 
duties  on  the  26th,  and  took  the  oath  of  ofiice  September  26th,  1759. 
At  the  meeting  held  this  day  it  was  voted  that  if  Mr.  Davies  wished 


20  HISTORICAL   SKETCH   OF  THE 

to  educate  any  of  his  sons  in  the  college  that  they  be  free  from  tuition 
money  ;  that  the  President  take  a  catalogue  of  the  books  in  the  library, 
and  have  the  same  published  at  the  expense  of  the  college ;  and  that 
Governor  Bernard,  Messrs.  Davies,  P.  T.  Smith,  W.  Tennent,  Finley, 
Green,  Cummings,  and  Stockton,  or  any  three  of  them,  be  a  committee 
to  frame  a  system  of  regulations  concerning  admission  into  college 
with  the  necessary  qualifications  for  degrees.  This  committee  reported 
at  the  meeting  held  September  24th,  1760.  The  substance  of  their  report 
was,  that  candidates  for  the  second  or  master's  degree,  if  alumni  of  the 
college,  should  reside  at  college,  in  ordinary  cases,  for  one  week  be- 
fore the  conferring  of  that  degree,  and  submit  to  the  laws  and  orders 
of  the  college,  and  be  examined  on  such  branches  of  literature  as  the 
trustees  then  present  should  think  necessary,  and  make  such  prepara- 
tion for  commencement  as  the  officers  of  the  college  should  judge  pro- 
per ;  that  graduates  from  other  colleges  should  be  admitted  ad  cundem 
without  examination ;  but  that  it  should  be  inserted  in  their  diplomas, 
and  publicly  declared  by  the  President,  in  conferring  their  degrees, 
that  they  were  conferred  honoris  causa  ;  and  that  if  they  were  candi- 
dates for  a  higher  degree  than  they  had  elsewhere  received,  they  should, 
like  the  alumni  of  the  college,  reside  a  week  at  the  college,  and  sub- 
mit to  examination  ;  that  testimonials  of  good  moral  character,  signed 
by  two  or  more  gentlemen  of  note  and  veracity  in  the  place  where  they 
resided,  should  be  required  from  all  who  might  be  candidates  for  the 
master's  degree,  unless  personally  known  to  the  trustees,  or  officers  of 
the  college  ;  that  any  person  might  have  liberty  to  offer  himself  at  the 
pu1)lic  examination,  as  a  candidate  for  a  bachelor's  degree,  and  if  ap- 
proved he  should  be  admitted  thereto  accordingly,  upon  paying  the 
sum  of  eight  pounds,  being  the  tuition  money  for  two  years,  exclusive 
of  degree  fees  ;  that  candidates  for  any  class  higher  than  the  freshman, 
should  not  only  be  previously  examined  as  usual,  but  recite  for  two 
weeks  upon  trial,  in  that  particular  class  for  which  they  might  stand 
candidates,  and  then  should  be  "fixed"  in  that,  or  in  a  loAver  class,  as 
the  college  officers  should  judge  them  qualified  ;  that  for  the  future  the 
President  or  tutors  who  shall  at  that  time  officiate,  have  liberty  to 
appoint  any  of  the  students  to  read  a  portion  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures 
out  of  the  original  language  at  evening  prayers ;  and  that  when  they 
think  proper  they  may  substitute  psalmody  instead  of  the  reading  of 
the  Scriptures.  At  this  time  small  pecuniary  fines  were  inflicted  for 
slight  offences  or  omissions  of  duty  ;  this  continued  till  the  time  of 
Dr.  Witherspoon,  and  was  then  abolished.  Messrs.  Davies,  W.  Ten- 
nent, Cowell,  and  Stockton  were  appointed  to  draw  up  a  history  of  the 
college,  they  however  were  prevented  from  doing  so.  In  September, 
1762,  it  was  assigned  to  W.  P.  Smith,  Esq.,  he  also  declined  the  ser- 
vice, and  the  President  was  then  desired  to  do  it.  Dr.  Finley  was  then 
President  and  undertook  the  task,  publishing  an  historical  account  of 
the  institution  from  its  beginning ;  this  appeared  in  1764.* 

Tlie  number  of  students  uiuler  jNlr.  Davies  probably  reached  nearly 
one  hundred,  although  the  exact  number  is  unknown.     lie  devoted  all 

*  On  August  6th.  1770,  the  senior  class  unanimously  agreed  to  appear  at  the  en- 
8uin";  commencement  dressed  in  American  manufactures. 


COLLEGE    OF   NEW   JEKSET.  21 

his  time  and  energies  to  the  affiiirs  of  the  college,  and  introduced  the 
practice  of  English  composition  and  eloquence  with  much  success.  To 
his  new  charge  he  applied  himself  with  great  assiduity ;  the  work  be- 
ing familiar  to  him,  he  having  trained  several  for  the  ministry,  besides 
preparing  others  for  college.  He  was  also  successful,  and  exhibited 
skill  in  the  management  of  the  college.  But  his  great  labors  soon 
wore  him  down ;  being  a  very  close  student,  he  often  sat  up  till  mid- 
night and  rose  with  the  sun.  At  last  he  sank  under  his  accumulated 
duties  and  closed  his  life  in  peace,  February  4th,  1761. 

From  the  time  of  his  decease  till  the  next  meeting  of  trustees,  it 
appears  that  the  college  was  under  the  care  of  the  tutors.  When  this 
meeting  occurred,  Rev.  Samuel  Finley,  of  Nottingham  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, was  unanimously  chosen  his  successor.  Mr.  Finley  accepted 
the  appointment,  and  measures  were  taken  to  dissolve  his  connection 
with  his  pastoral  charge,  and  remove  him  to  Princeton.  At  the  meet- 
ing, September  -SOth,  1761,  he  took  the  oaths  required  and  assumed 
the  duties  of  his  office.  About  this  time  the  President's  salary  Avas 
increased  to  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  per  annum,  proclamation 
money,  and  it  was  ordered  that  the  President's  sons  have  the  same 
educational  advantages  aiforded  those  of  Mr.  Davies. 

Previous  to  this,  no  public  house  of  worship  had  been  erected  in 
Princeton,  but  the  residents  had  hired  peAvs  in  the  college  chapel,  and 
at  the  same  time  the  commencements  were  held  in  the  same  place  ;  in 
consequence  of  this,  a  piece  of  land  belonging  to  the  college  was  given 
to  the  inhabitants  of  the  village  and  its  vicinity,  for  the  pm-pose  of 
erecting  a  suitable  church  thereon.  Until  this  time  the  college  edifice 
and  the  President's  house  were  the  only  buildings  erected  ;  but  at  a 
meeting,  September  29th,  1762,  a  committee  consisting  of  Messrs. 
President  Finley,  William  Tennent,  M'Kuight,  the  treasurer,  and  the 
clerk,  was  appointed  to  superintend  the  erection  of  a  kitchen.  A 
part  of  the  main  building  had  hitherto  been  used  for  this  purpose,  but 
now  a  proper  building  was  erected  for  culinary  uses.  At  this  time 
also  the  thanks  of  the  trustees  were  returned  to  the  legislature  of  the 
province  for  granting  permission  to  make  a  lottery  for  the  benefit  of 
the  institution.  In  consequence  of  the  grant  of  land  for  the  site  of 
a  church,  and  the  loan  of  seven  hundred  pounds  for  building  the  same, 
the  colleo-e  had  an  exclusive  right  to  use  the  church  on  commence- 
nients,  on  the  evenings  preceding  them,  and  at  such  other  times  as  the 
faculty  required ;  and  also  one  half  of  the  gallery,  for  the  students  on 
the  Sabbath. 

During  the  Revolutionary  war  both  the  inside  of  this  church  and 
of  the  college  were  destroyed  by  the  American  and  British  armies,  and 
afterwards  repaired  at  much  expense.  In  February,  1813,  the  church 
was  destroyed  by  fire,  except  the  brick  walls,  and  again  restored  by 
the  congregation,  the  college  contributing  $500.  The  President's 
salary  was  now  increased  to  three  hundred  pounds  per  annum.  An 
English  school  was  also  established,  but  owing  to  its  causing  inconve- 
niences it  was  ordered  to  be  removed  from  the  college. 

So  much  money  was  now  due  the  steward  from  persons  educated 
in  the  college,  that  it  was  ordered  that  every  student  should  pay  his 


22  HISTORICAL   SKETCH   OF   THE 

bills  at  the  end  of  every  fall  vacation,  and  in  default  to  be  dismissed ; 
unless  security  be  given  that  the  money  would  be  paid  in  six  weeks 
afterwards ;  and  that  every  student  not  producing  a  certificate  from 
the  steward  of  his  being  in  no  arrears,  two  days  before  commencement, 
should  have  his  name  struck  off  the  printed  Thesis  and  Catalogue, 
and  not  allowed  to  perform  any  commencement  exercises  or  receive  a 
deo;ree.  This  measure,  though  apparently  harsh,  was  absolutely  ne- 
cessary in  order  to  secure  the  salaries  of  the  officers.  At  the  present 
time,  (1859,)  all  bills  must  be  paid  in  advance;  the  balance  being  re- 
funded if  the  student  leaves  before  the  close  of  the  session.  On  Sep- 
tember 25th,  1165,  it  Avas  ordered,  "that  hereafter  no  other  articles 
whatsoever  be  kept  in  the  buttery  and  sold  to  the  students,  save  only 
bread,  butter,  candles,  and  small  beer;"  also  that  the  bell-man  deliver 
the  key  of  the  cupola  to  none  but  the  President,  tutors,  or  steward. 
This  was  necessary,  for  the  fire  in  1802  commenced  in  the  cupola, 
and  was  probably  caused  by  too  free  access  thereto :  that  every  stu- 
dent and  graduate,  college  officers  excepted,  who  use  the  library,  pay 
to  the  steward  two  shillings  and  six-pence  for  the  use  of  the  same ; 
that  no  student  have  the  library  key,  and  that  every  person  introduced 
be  accompanied  by  an  officer;  that  the  President's  salary  be  increased 
one  hundred  pounds  per  annvmi ;  and  that  Mr.  Ogden  get  sixty-two 
good  leather  fire-buckets  to  be  used  in  case  of  fire. 

At  a  meeting,  June  25th,  1766,  mention  is  made  of  a  donation  of 
one  hundred  pounds  by  Mr.  John  Williamson  of  Hanover,  Virginia, 
for  the  support  of  a  professor  of  Divinity.  This  is  the  first  donation 
for  this  object  mentioned  in  the  minutes  of  the  college.  Until  the 
founding  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton  in  1812,  those 
graduates  desiring  to  study  theology  were  under  the  care  of  the  Pres- 
ident of  the  college  ;  but  about  a  year  after  the  above  donation,  Rev. 
John  Blair  was  appointed  professor  of  Theology,  and  held  the  office 
till  the  time  of  Dr.  Witherspoon,  as  well  as  the  direction  of  the  col- 
lege. He  then  resigned  the  office,  and  Dr.  Witherspoon  was  invested 
with  it,  together  with  his  own  duties  as  President.  An  address  was 
drawn  up  at  this  meeting  to  be  presented  to  his  majesty  for  his  "gra- 
cious condescension"  in  repealing  the  stamp  act,  and  also  a  petition 
asking  for  a  grant  of  sixty  thousand  acres  of  the  land  lately  added  to 
the  province  of  New  York  from  the  territory  of  New  Hampshire  ;  these 
were  prepared  and  sent  to  Mr.  Stockton,  then  in  London,  who  being 
introduced  to  the  king,  presented  the  address,  Avhich  was  graciously 
received ;  the  petition  was  placed  in  the  plantation  office,  Lord  Shel- 
burne  promising  to  lay  it  before  the  king ;  this  however  was  the  last 
of  the  petition,  it  never  being  heard  of  afterwards. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  De  Ronde  introduced  a  plan  for  obtaining  a  professor, 
of  divinity  from  Holland,  for  the  service  of  both  Dutch  and  English 
Presbyterian  Churches.  The  trustees  not  approving  the  scheme, 
referred  it  to  the  next  meeting.  Complaints  were  now  made  of  the 
detriment  to  the  college  by  students  boarding  out  of  the  building ;  it 
appearing  that  quite  a  number  were  out,  they  Avere  ordered  to  return 
in  ten  days,  unless  a  physician  certified  that  the  health  of  the  students 
re( quired  his  continuance  in  town ;  and  not  even  Avas  this  alloAved  till 


COLLEGE  OP   NEW   JERSEY.  23 

the  permission  of  the  President  was  obtained,  or  of  the  tutors.  It 
seems  however  that  students  whose  parents  or  guardians  lived  near 
college  were  permitted  to  live  with  them ;  but  at  the  present  time, 
( 1859,)  all  the  students  board  in  the  town,  either  in  clubs  or  in  private 
houses. 

Dr.  Finlcy's  health  now  began  to  fail,  and  as  the  probability  was 
that  he  would  be  removed  by  death  before  the  next  meeting,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Spencer  was  appointed  to  preside  at  commencement  and 
confer  the  degrees.  This  gentleman  accepted  the  appointment  and 
performed  the  duty  assigned  him.  The  President  being  absent  in 
Philadelphia,  whither  he  had  gone  for  medical  advice,  Mr.  William 
Tennent  was  appointed  to  take  his  place  till  next  commencement,  or 
during  President  Finley's  absence  and  disability;  he  signified  his  ac- 
ceptance and  was  accordingly  qualified.  The  following  minutes  occur 
at  the  meeting  held  September  24,  1766,  after  Dr.  Finley's  decease, 
( July  17,  1766,)  and  before  the  election  of  his  successor.  The  affair 
of  Mr.  De  Ronde  was  now  brought  up  and  postponed.  The  tutor  of 
the  college,  Mr.  Jeremiah  Halsey,  having  performed  many  faithful 
services  above  his  usual  duties,  was  presented  with  sixty-one  pounds, 
it  being  the  graduation  money.  This  gentleman  held  the  office  of 
tutor,  it  is  supposed,  longer  than  any  other,  was  one  of  Nassau's 
best  scholars,  a  preacher  of  the  gospel,  afterwards  settled  as  a  minis- 
ter, and  a  trustee  of  the  college  for  some  years.  On  account  of  the 
low  state  of  the  college  funds,  the  President's  salary  diminished  from 
four  hundred  pounds  to  two  hundred  and  fifty,  with  the  usual  perquis- 
ites, per  annum.     The  annual  charge  at  this  time  was, — 

£.  s.  d. 

Tuition  money,  -----4         0  0 

Boarding,  Steward's  ^ 

salary  and  servants'    V   -         -         -      15  0  0 

wages  inclusive,  J 

Chamber  rent,  -         -         -         - 

Washing,      ----- 

Wood  and  candles,     -         -         - 

Contingent  charges,        -         _         - 

Total,     -----     £25        6  0 

The  fund,  about  this  time,  was  a  little  over  X1300.  But  a  lottery 
being  started  by  gentlemen  in  Philadelphia,  this  was  increased  to 
nearly  X2800.  The  appropriation  of  <£500  at  this  period,  from  Col. 
Alford  of  Charlestown,  Mass.,  was  particularly  acceptable  in  building 
up  the  institution,  as  well  as  showing  the  good  will  of  others  for  its 
ultimate  success. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  John  Woodhull  of  Monmouth,  New  Jersey,  furnishes 
the  folloAving  facts  : — "Dr.  Finley  was  of  small  stature,  of  a  round  and 
ruddy  countenance ;  in  the  pulpit,  sensible  and  solemn,  with  consider- 
able fervor :  of  extensive  learning,  being  familiar  with  every  branch 
taught  in  college.  He  taught  Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew,  in  the  se- 
nior year.  When  he  died,  he  requested  to  be  carried  to  the  grave  by 
members  of  the  senior  class,  I  being  one  of  them.     The  number  of 


1 

0 

0 

3 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

0 

6 

0 

24  HISTORICAL   SKETCH   OF  THE 

students  at  this  time  was  about  one  hundred.  Thirty-one  commenced 
in  the  dass  before  mine,  and  the  same  number  in  the  class  to  which  I 
belonged.  These  were  the  largest  classes  that  had  commenced  at  that 
time.  My  class  lost  thirteen  or  fourteen,  not,  however,  by  expulsion. 
There  were  about  fifty  boys  in  the  school,  and  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  in  all  in  the  edifice,  most  of  whom  boarded  in  the  college  and  ate 
in  the  dining-room,  at  a  table  by  themselves.  The  college  was  never 
in  a  more  flourishing  condition,  the  number  never  being  so  great 
before.  There  were  some  revivals  of  religion  before  Dr.  Finley's 
time ;  but  in  his  time,  there  was  something  general.  It  began  in 
1762,  in  the  freshman  class,  to  which  I  belonged.  It  contained 
twenty-five  or  thirty  members,  and  almost  as  soon  as  the  session  com- 
menced, meetings  for  prayer  were  held  once  a  week.  One  of  the 
members  became  deeply  impressed,  and  this  affected  the  whole  class. 
The  other  classes,  and  soon  the  whole  college,  became  impressed  ;  every 
class  became  a  praying  society,  and  the  whole  college  met  once  a  week 
for  prayer  ;  there  was  also  a  private,  select  society.  Meetings  were  held 
in  the  town  and  country ;  probably  every  one  in  the  college  was  more  or 
less  affected ;  two  members  of  the  senior  class  were  considered  op- 
posers  of  the  work,  but  both  afterwards  became  ministers  of  the  gos- 
pel. The  work  continued  about  a  year ;  fifteen  of  my  class  were  sup- 
posed to  be  pious,  and  in  college,  about  fifty,  or  nearly  one-half  of 
all  the  students."  It  was  during  this  presidency  that  the  Cligsophic 
Society  was  founded,  viz  :  in  the  year  1765.  This  society  is  private 
in  its  nature,  being  held  by  the  members,  once  a  week,  for  literary 
purposes. 

At  the  meeting  held  after  Dr.  Finley's  death,  the  trustees  did  not 
proceed  to  elect  a  successor,  but  appointed  a  meeting  for  that  purpose, 
to  1)0  held  Nov.  19,  1766.  At  this  time,  the  Rev.  Dr.  AVitherspoon, 
of  Paisley,  in  Scotland,  was  duly  elected  nejn.  con.  ;  it  was  ordered  that 
a  letter  be  sent  him,  requesting  his  compliance,  and  at  the  same  time, 
another  was  addressed  to  Mr.  Stockton,  then  in  London,  desiring  him 
to  use  his  influence  in  inducing  Dr.  W.  to  accede  to  the  proposal ;  also, 
tlmt  should  he  accept,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  guineas  be  allowed  to 
dcfrny  his  expenses,  and  that  his  salary  commence  on  the  day  he 
landed  in  North  America,  j\Ir.  William  Tenncnt  was  continued  in 
his  office  as  President  -pro  tern.  The  grammar  school  becoming  charge- 
able to  the  college,  it  was  resolved  to  continue  it  no  longer,  and  that 
Mr.  Avery,  the  teacher,  be  discharged  from  service ;  still,  if  he  was 
disposed  to  keep  the  school  at  his  own  risk,  he  might  be  at  liberty  to 
do  so.  At  the  meeting  held  Sept.  30,  1767,  a  letter  from  Dr.  "With- 
erspoon  was  read,  in  which  he  declined  the  office  tendered  him ;  the 
chief  cause  of  this  was  the  unwillingness  of  iNIrs.  Withcrspoon  to  leave 
her  native  country.  She,  however,  afterwards  became  reconciled  to 
the  removal.  Mr.  Ilalscy,  the  senior  tutor,  now  resigned  his  office, 
and  requested  testimonials  from  the  trustees,  Avliich  were  cheerfully 
granted.  Mr.  James  Thompson,  tutor,  was  appointed  inspector  of  the 
rooms,  with  five  pounds  a  year  for  his  trouble  ;  this  was  the  first  col- 
lege inspector.  The  college  funds  were  now  as  follows : — In  the  trea- 
surer's hands,  £2815  3s.  Id.,  of  Avhich  only  about  .£950  were  at  inte- 


COLLEGE   OF    NEW    JERSEY.  25 

rest.  On  the  2d  October,  the  trustees  met,  and  elected  Rev.  John 
Blair,  of  Fagg's  Manor,  Penna.,  as  professor  of  Divinity  and  Moral 
Philosophy ;  Dr.  Hugh  Williamson  as  professor  of  Mathematics,  and 
Mr.  Jonathan  Edwards,  now  tutor  in  college,  to  the  professorship  of 
Languages  and  Logic.  Dr.  Witherspoon  having  declined  the  presi- 
dency, Rev.  Samuel  Blair,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  was  elected  President  and 
professor  of  Rhetoric  and  Metaphysics.  In  view  of  Mr.  Tennent's 
services  as  vice  president  j)ro  tern,  the  treasurer  was  ordered  to  pay 
him  «£100.  The  salaries  of  the  officers  were  fixed  as  follows  : — 
To  the  President  and  Professor  of  Rhetoric  and  Metaphysics,  <£200 
To  the  Professor  of  Divinity  and  INIoral  Philosophy,  -  -  175 
To  the  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy,  -  150 
To  the  Professor  of  Languages  and  Logic,       -         -         -  -     125 

Mr.  Blair,  having  accepted  the  office  assigned  him,  was  appointed 
vice  president  till  next  commencement :  none  of  the  others  ever  ac- 
cepted their  appointments.  Rev.  Samuel  Blair  also  declined  the  pre- 
sidency, and  as  it  was  learned,  at  this  time,  that  Dr.  Witherspoon,  if 
again  elected,  would  accept  the  office,  he  was  accordingly  unanimously 
re-elected.  It  was  now  ordered  that  all  students  enter  the  lowest 
class  in  college ;  this  was  soon  repealed,  and  the  students  now 
enter  the  classes  they  are  qualified  for.  "Voted  that  the  practice  of 
sending  freshmen  upon  errands,  or  employing  them  as  servitors  in  any 
manner  whatsoever,  be  from  henceforward  totally  discontinued."  Mr. 
Stockton  informed  the  board  that  the  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds,  given 
by  Mr.  Williamson,  of  Virginia,  had  been  received  by  him  while  in 
England ;  for  this  donation,  Dr.  Redman  was  appointed  to  transmit 
the  thanks  of  the  board  to  the  donor.  It  was  also  ordered  that  the 
grammar  school  be  again  revived,  under  the  patronage  of  the  board. 
A  letter  was  drawn  up  to  be  transmitted  to  the  synod,  requesting  an 
appropriation  in  support  of  a  professor  of  Divinity ;  this  proved  suc- 
cessful, for  a  contribution  was  ordered  in  all  the  churches  under  the 
synod,  to  be  annually  paid. 

In  December,  1767,  the  trustees  adjourned  till  the  next  commence- 
ment, expecting  that  Dr.  Witherspoon  would  not  arrive  before  that 
time ;  he,  however,  did  arrive  in  August  following,  and  at  a  special 
meeting  of  the  board,  Aug.  17,  1768,  was  inaugurated.  On  his  ac- 
cession, the  college  finances  were,  from  a  variety  of  causes,  in  a  very 
low  and  declining  condition  ;  but  the  reputation  he  held  excited  the 
liberality  of  the  public,  and  by  his  oAvn  efforts,  which  were  extended 
from  Massachusetts  to  Virginia,  the  monetary  affairs  were  soon  raised 
to  a  flourishing  condition.  The  war  of  the  revolution,  however,  was  a 
severe  blow  to  the  college,  obstructing  its  progress,  and  nearly  de- 
stroying its  resources ;  still,  much  of  the  credit  for  sustaining  the  in- 
stitution, was  due  to  the  manly  enterprise  and  exalted  talents  of  its 
President.  Such,  indeed,  were  his  numerous  and  noble  qualities,  that 
it  was  with  much  difficulty  his  friends  in  Scotland  were  induced  to 
give  him  up.  A  gentleman  possessed  of  considerable  property,  and  a 
relative  of  the  doctor's  family,  promised  to  make  him  his  heir  if  he 
would  not  go  to  America ;  this  fact  shows  the  pure  and  disinterested 
motives  which  actuated  him  in  undertaking  so  arduous  and  difficult  a 
4 


26  HISTORICAL   SKETCH   OF   THE 

task.  Much  advantage  was  derived  from  liis  superintendence,  from 
the  example  he  set  the  students,  and  from  the  direction  and  tone  he 
gave  to  the  literary  pursuits  of  the  college.  In  his  opinion,  the  course 
of  instruction  had  been  too  superficial,  arising  from  the  circumstances 
of  the  infant  country.  The  metaphysics  and  philosophy  taught,  par- 
took too  much  of  the  dry  and  uninstructive  forms  of  the  schools  ;  in- 
stead of  these,  he  introduced  all  the  modern  and  liberal  improvements 
made  in  Europe,  making  the  philosophical  course  comprehend  the 
general  principles  of  policy  and  public  law,  and  with  these,  joined  a 
system  of  sound  and  rational  metaphysics,  avoiding  the  doctrines  of 
fatality  and  contingency,  the  barrenness  of  the  schools,  and  the  ab- 
surdities of  the  materialists  and  spirituahsts. 

With  such  a  man  at  the  head  of  the  institution,  it  is  not  to  be  won- 
dered at  that  students  began  to  increase,  and  the  condition  of  things 
assumed  an  appearance  of  prosperity.  The  foundation  of  a  course  of 
history  was  laid  by  him,  and  the  principles  of  taste  and  good  writing 
were  admirably  explained  and  illustrated  in  his  own  manner.  The 
course  of  learning  was  considerably  diverted  by  him.  Literary  re- 
search became  more  varied,  profound,  and  extensive ;  with  these 
he  joined  a  happy  facility  of  arousing  the  inquiries  and  emulation  of 
young  men,  and  at  the  same  time  an  excellent  method  of  preserving 
the  regularity  and  government  of  the  college.  Under  him  many  of 
America's  noblest  patriots,  legislators,  and  ministers  received  the  ele- 
ments of  their  education.  In  the  year  1769,  the  American  Whig 
Society  was  organized ;  being  a  literary  association  similar  to  the 
Cliosophic  society  above  mentioned.  These  societies  originated  in  two 
earlier  ones,  called  the  "  Well  meaning,"  and  "  Plain  dealing"  societies. 
These  latter  were  voluntary  associations,  and  existed  prior  to  the  acces- 
sion of  Dr.  Witherspoon,  as  the  tradition  states.  But  they  changed 
their  names  after  his  times  ;  the  "  Well  meaning"  taking  the  title  of 
the  Cliosophic,  and  the  "  Plain  dealing,"  that  of  the  American  Whig 
Society.  At  first  these  bodies  were  of  a  sectional  character  ;  those 
coming  from  eastern  New  Jersey,  New  York,  and  New  England,  joined 
the  Cliosophic  ;  while  those  from  West  Jersey^  Pennsylvania,  and  the 
Southern  states,  united  with  the  American  Whig. 

The  war  of  the  Revolution,  however,  which  joined  the  whole  coun- 
try as  one  man  and  banished  all  petty  feuds,  removed  and  destroyed 
this  sectional  feeling,  and  at  the  present  time  it  is  unknown ;  for  stu- 
dents from  all  parts  of  the  country  connect  themselves  Avitli  either 
society.  The  war  having  interrupted  tliese  bodies,  they  were  revived 
after  its  close ;  Dr.  Green,  together  with  his  room-mate,  being  chiefi}'- 
instrumental  in  resuscitating  the  American  Whig  Society.  Soon  after 
his  matriculation.  Dr.  Green  drew  up  a  paper,  pledging  the  subscribers 
to  join  the  society  provided  the  original  constitution  could  be  found, 
and  if  enough  old  members  could  be  collected  and  be  willing  to  receive 
them  into  their  fellowship.  Fortunately  both  the  constitution  and  old 
minutes  were  found,  having  been  preserved  by  a  graduate  of  the  col- 
lege, and  were  produced  at  the  re([uest  of  the  old  members  when  met 
to  receive  the  new  ones.  On  inquiry  it  was  also  found  that  a  lady  in 
town  had  preserved  some  of  the  furniture  of  the  old  hall,  which  she 


COLLEGE  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  27 

was  willing  and  desirous  to  return.  The  furniture  consisted  of  the 
following  articles,  viz  :  "  a  looking-glass  of  considerable  size,  a  pair 
of  brass  andirons,  and  two  octavo  volumes  of  Johnson's  abbreviated 
dictionary."  Nine  new  members  were  admitted,  and  the  faculty  gave 
permission  to  meet  inthelibrary  room  of  the  college  till  the  hall  should 
be  repaired.  These  two  literary  societies  have  held  their  meetings  in 
three  places,  viz  :  The  first  place  was  in  the  fourth  story  of  NASSAU 
Hall,  in  the  two  half  rooms  which,  with  the  entry  between  them,  filled 
the  front  projection  of  that  edifice.  The  second  location  was  in  the 
two  rooms  over  the  present  library,  in  the  building  west  of  North  Col- 
lege ;  these  they  occupied  entirely.  A  few  years  ago,  with  the  aid  of 
the  alumni,  two  spacious  halls  for  these  societies  were  erected  ;  they 
are  elegant  buildings,  of  the  Ionic  order,  sixty-two  feet  long,  forty-one 
wide,  and  two  stories  high.  The  columns  of  the  porticos  arc  copied 
from  those  of  the  Temple  on  the  Ilissus  ;  the  model  of  the  buildings 
in  other  respects  is  that  of  a  Temple  in  the  island  of  Teos.  These 
halls  are  situated  at  the  south  end  of  the  campus :  the  American  Whig 
being  to  the  east,  and  the  Cliosophic  towards  the  west.  The  funds  for 
their  erection  were  collected  from  graduate  members  and  from  those 
still  in  college.  Each  hall  possesses  a  valuable  library,  now  number- 
ing, together,  some  ten  thousand  volumes.  These  societies  are  strictly 
secret,  confer  diplomas,  and  keep  up  a  constant  rivalry  with  each 
other.  Before  the  Revolution  a  paper  war  broke  out  between  them 
and  raged  so  violently  that  the  college  authorities  had  to  put  it  down. 
The  greatest  harmony  and  good  feeling,  however,  now  prevail  between 
them  ;  each  striving  for  the  honors  of  the  college,  each  exerting  a 
great  influence  for  good  among  its  members  ;  and  some  go  so  far  as  to 
say  that  the  advantages  derived  from  them  are  not  inferior  to  those  of 
the  college  itself,  which  perhaps  is  true  in  regard  to  the  particular  ob- 
jects they  are  designed  to  effect. 

The  college,  by  the  efforts  of  Dr.  Witherspoon,  continued  to  flourish, 
the  course  of  education  being  guided  with  great  success  and  reputation, 
till  the  outburst  of  the  American  Revolution  suspended  the  President's 
duties  and  dispersed  the  students.  The  people  of  New  Jersey  saw  in 
this  great  man  just  the  qualities  requisite  to  make  him  a  delegate  to 
the  great  American  council.  Besides  being  a  member  of  the  various 
committees  and  conventions  of  the  state,  he  was  sent  to  represent  New 
Jersey  in  the  United  States  Congress,  and  remained  for  seven  years  a 
member  of  that  body.  Now  began  that  struggle  so  memorable  in  the 
history  of  the  world,  and  the  result  of  which  proved  so  glorious  to  the 
heaven  blest  land  of  Columbia,  a  contest  in  which  many  of  Nassau's 
sons  engaged,  in  which  their  Alma  Mater  was  dishonored  and  shorn 
of  her  beauty,  but  out  of  which  she  was  destined  to  rise  phoenix-like 
from  her  ruins,  and  again  put  on  the  plumes  of  glory  and  triumph,  all 
the  more  resplendent  because  of  her  late  violated  rights  being  re- 
stored and  her  unsullied  honor  vindicated  ;  a  contest  in  which  they 
were  finally  to  triumph  over  the  haughty  tyrants  in  their  determina- 
tion to  preserve  and  maintain  their  "lives,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of 
happiness,"  free  and  untarnished  from  the  foul  touch  of  foreign  op- 
pression.    To  the  true  patriot,  every  spot  on  which  a  contest  for  his 


28  HISTORICAL   SKETCH   OF  THE 

country's  rights  occurred  is  doubly  dear.  What  spot  then  more  dear 
to  every  American  heart,  to  every  genuine  lover  of  liberty,  than  the 
blood-l)ought  plains  around  Nassau  Hall  ?  Where  can  the  affections 
of  a  free  people  circle  more  strongly  than  around  these  fields,  bedewed 
with  the  blood  of  freemen,  the  price  of  liberty?  Where  more  vene- 
rable walls  than  those  of  Old  Nassau  ?  Though  once  defiled  by  the 
vile  minions  of  oppression,  do  they  not  still  bear  the  marks  of  Free- 
dom's sons  while  exterminating  the  foe  ? 

The  contest  had  been  long  and  varied ;  despondency  had  seized 
the  minds  of  many  ;  New  Jersey  had  been  taken  and  occupied  by  the 
enemy ;  Philadelphia  had  been  sui'rendered ;  the  American  army  scat- 
tered ;  the  crisis  was  at  hand,  and  Washington  seeing  its  approach, 
resolved  to  make  a  bold  stroke ;  victory  or  death  being  the  stakes  at 
issue.  The  British  army  was  safely  quartered  in  Nassau's  walls,  as 
the  American  army,  led  by  its  chief,  approached  from  Trenton,  Janu- 
ary 3,  1777.  By  a  circuitous  route  he  reached  Princeton,  and  was 
immediately  in  contact  with  the  enemy.  The  brave  Mercer  of  Vir- 
ginia led  the  van,  being  directed  to  secure  the  bridge  over  the  adjoin- 
ing stream.  Here  the  British,  17th,  attacked  him.  The  militia,  of 
which  the  advanced  party  was  mostly  composed,  soon  gave  way,  and 
the  few  regulars  were  too  weak  to  hold  their  ground.  After  three 
volleys  the  British  charged.  The  Americans  havrng  only  rifles,  and 
being  exhausted  during  the  past  twenty-four  hours,  recoiled  from  the 
enemy's  bayonet.  Vainly  did  their  commander  try  to  rally  them, 
his  broken  troops  gave  way  and  the  van  was  entirely  routed ;  Mercer 
fell  while  gallantly  rallying  his  men.  Washington  in  person  followed 
close  in  the  rear,  and  galloping  through  the  broken  and  dismayed 
ranks,  called  upon  the  faltering  fugitives  to  renew  the  attack ;  for  a 
while  the  dismay  and  panic  prevailed,  but  at  last  being  supported  by 
the  veterans  who  saved  their  country  at  Trenton  the  day  before,  he 
attacked  the  enemy  with  great  fury,  causing  them  in  turn  to  recoil, 
broke  their  line  and  separated  the  regiments,  compelling  Col.  Man- 
hood to  force  a  passage  through  a  part  of  the  American  troops  and 
retreat  to  Maidenhead,  (Lawrence.)  Then  the  discomfited  troops  ral- 
lied in  line,  again  the  fatal  rifle  is  leveled,  again  the  smoke  disap- 
pearing, the  victorious  chief  is  seen  hmu\ying  over  the  field,  directing 
everything  and  encouraging  his  men ;  then  was  seen  the  enemy  re- 
treating, broken,  defeated ;  then  rushed  through  Princeton  the  reflex 
tide  of  battle ;  then  thundered  at  Old  Nassau's  walls  the  order  to 
surrender ;  then  quailed  the  foreign  oppressor,  America  was  victorious, 
the  Scarlet  Livery  surrendered,  and  the  battle  of  Princeton  was  won. 

This  engagement  was  one  of  the  most  fatal  to  the  oflScers  in  the 
Revolution ;  the  Americans  losing  one  General,  two  Colonels,  one 
Major,  and  tlu'oe  Captains.  The  loss  to  the  enemy  was  upwards  of  " 
one  hundred  killed  on  the  spot,  and  nearly  three  hundred  taken  pris- 
oners ;  the  American  loss  was  somewhat  less.  During  this  battle  the 
British  took  refuge  in  the  college ;  AVashington  attacked  them  and  a 
shot  from  his  cannon  passing  through  a  window,  struck  ofi"  the  head 
of  a  portrait  of  King  George  Avliich  liung  in  tlie  library.  After  the 
conflict  Gen.  Washington  presented  fifty  guineas  to  the  college;  with 


COLLEGE   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  29 

this  a  portrait  of  himself,  painted  by  the  elder  Pealo  of  Philadelphia, 
was  purchased,  and  now  occupies  the  frame  once  surrounding  the  por- 
trait of  King  George  II.  Together  with  this  portrait  there  remain 
the  identical  electrical  machine  used  by  Dr.  Franklin,  and  the  orrery 
or  planetarium  constructed  by  Mr.  Rittenhouse  of  Philadelphia. 

The  tradition  in  reference  to  the  two  cannons  in  the  campus  is  as 
follows  : — They  were  used  in  the  Revolution ;  the  large  one  being  left 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  college,  remained  till  the  war  of  1812,  when  the 
American  troops  came  and  took  it  to  New  Brunswick ;  there  it  was 
condemned  as  unfit  for  use  and  left.  A  contest  now  began  betAveen 
the  inhabitants  and  those  of  Princeton  as  to  who  should  possess  the 
old  relic  of  the  Revolution ;  at  last  the  townsmen  of  Princeton  resolved 
to  obtain  it,  and  having  secured  from  Mr.  Phineas  Withiugton  four 
horses  and  a  driver,  and  from  Mr.  John  Gulick  a  large  wagon  which 
he  kept  at  his  mill  near  Kingston,  they  started  one  night  and  brought 
it  to  Princeton.  The  little  cannon  was  left  after  the  war  at  a  mill, 
near  the  present  canal,  on  the  road  going  east  from  Queenston,  after- 
wards it  was  brought  to  Princeton  as  the  nearest  town,  and  lay  for  a 
long  time  in  front  of  the  college  campus ;  then  when  the  road  was 
being  repaired  it  was  set  up  as  a  post  at  the  head  of  Witherspoon 
Street,  whence  it  was  removed  to  its  present  position  in  the  campus 
by  the  students  in  1858. 

During  1776  and  the  two  following  years  there  was  no  college 
commencement  held,  although  some  students  had  been  partially  in- 
structed as  early  as  the  summer  of  1778,  by  the  President  and  pro- 
fessor of  Mathematics. 

A  public  commencement  was  held  in  1779,  and  the  degree  of  B.  A. 
conferred  on  six  students.  The  exercises  were  never  discontinued 
after  this,  though  the  students  were  few,  and  their  increase  very 
gradual.  When  Dr.  Green  entered  the  college,  (1782,)  the  number 
was  but  little  over  forty.  Dr.  Witherspoon  was  then  in  Congress, 
and  the  instruction  and  government  were  conducted  by  his  son-in-law, 
Rev.  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith,  aided  by  Mr.  James  Riddle  as  tutor. 
In  the  autumn  of  1782,  Dr.  Witherspoon  left  Congress,  finally,  and  in 
the  following  winter  resumed  his  lectures  to  the  senior  class.  In  the 
svmimer  of  1783,  the  Continental  Congress  met  in  Princeton,  the 
members  finding  accommodations  in  the  village,  and  the  committees 
using  the  vacant  rooms  of  the  students.  Dr.  Elias  Boudinot  was 
President  of  the  Congress  at  that  time.  They  held  their  sittings  in 
the  library-room  of  Nassau  Hall,  a  room  nearly  as  large  as  the  one 
in  Philadelphia.  Shortly  after  the  meeting,  the  Fourth  of  July  Avas 
celebrated :  then,  for  the  first  time  the  Wliig  and  Cliosophic  Societies 
appointed  speakers  to  represent  each,  before  a  public  audience ;  these 
were,  for  the  Whig  Society,  Mr.  Ashbel  Green,  and  for  the  Cliosophic, 
Mr.  Gilbert  T.  SnoAvden.  Who  should  speak  first  Avas  decided  by  lot, 
and  it  fell  upon  Mr.  Green  to  precede,  Avhich  he  did,  with  a  discourse 
on  "  The  superiority  of  a  Republican  government  over  any  other  form." 
The  members  of  Congress  Avere  present,  and  the  President  thereof  in- 
vited the  orators  to  dine  Avith  him,  Avhich  they  did.  When  the  class 
graduated  this  year  there  were  present  on  the  stage,  the  trustees,  the 


30  HISTORICAL   SKETCH   OP   THE 

graduating  class,  the  wliole  of  Congress,  the  ministers  of  France  and 
Holland,  and  the  commander  in  chief  of  the  American  arm3^  Mr. 
Green  was  the  valedictorian,  and  he  concluded  his  speech  •w'ith  an  ad- 
dress to  Washington,  who  colored  considerably  when  thus  directly  re- 
ferred to. 

The  Revolutionary  struggle  being  nearly  over,  and  Dr.  Wither- 
spoon  feeling  the  advance  of  age,  wished  to  resign  his  office  ;  but 
through  his  attachment  to  the  college  he  was  induced  to  cross  the 
ocean  again  for  its  benefit ;  this  visit  however  did  not  meet  the  Avishes 
of  all,  still  the  enterprise  and  zeal  of  the  President  were  none  the  less 
valued  and  esteemed.  After  his  return  he  Avithdrew  partially  from 
the  duties  of  active  life,  except  those  devolving  upon  him  as  President. 
The  outward  man  however  began  to  decline,  and  for  more  than  two 
years  his  sight  failed  him ;  this  however  he  bore  with  much  patience, 
and  even  cheerfulness,  till  at  last  on  the  15th  November,  1794,  he 
entered  into  rest,  in  the  seventy-third  year  of  his  age. 

In  the  following  spring  Rev.  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith  was  appointed 
his  successor,  and  at  once  undertook  the  duties  of  the  ofiice  with  which 
he  had  been  familiar  for  a  long  time,  and  which  he  had  performed  with 
much  alnlity.  Under  his  administration  the  college  advanced  pros- 
perously, there  being  associated  with  him.  Dr.  Walter  Minto,  a  most 
distinguished  mathematician,  and  Dr.  John  Maclean, -professor  of  Chem- 
istry, ''  who  for  clearness  of  understanding,  and  largeness  of  compre- 
hension, had  few  equals  in  those  branches  of  science  to  which  he  de- 
voted himself." 

But  a  most  disastrous  event  soon  occurred  which  damped  the  hopes 
of  many  friends  of  the  college.  On  the  6th  of  March  1802,  all  the 
combustible  part  of  the  college  was  entirely  consumed  by  fire.  The 
cause  of  this  has  never  been  entirely  explained.  At  first  it  was  sup- 
posed to  be  the  Avork  of  some  malcontent  students,  and  several  of 
them  were  strongly  suspected  of  being  the  incendiaries  ;  but  after  the 
aflfair  Avas  largely  investigated,  it  was  concluded  to  have  been  the 
work  of  accident  rather  than  design.  The  board  of  trustees  Avas  im- 
mediately summoned,  and  a  plan  proposed  of  sending  through  the 
United  States  to  the  friends  of  the  college  a  subscription  for  the  pur- 
pose of  restoring  the  edifice  now  in  ruins.  Dr.  Green  Avas  requested 
to  Avrite  an  address  to  the  public  at  this  time ;  it  Avas  printed  and 
Avidely  circulated,  and  doubtless  was  of  great  benefit  in  calling  the 
attention  of  the  public  to  Nassau's  great  calamity,  and  in  inciting 
her  friends  to  lend  a  helping  hand  in  this  her  hour  of  need,  in 
building  up  her  ruined  walls,  and  restoring  her  former  beauty  and 
greatness.  The  influential  members  of  the  board  Avere  desired  to  use  all 
their  efforts  in  their  respective  localities  in  collecting  subscriptions, 
while  the  President  Avas  directed  to  go  in  person  through  the  Middle 
and  Southern  states  on  the  same  errand.  During  his  absence  Dr. 
Green  had  the  OA-ersight  of  the  college,  and  assisted  the  faculty  in  its 
government,  in  counseling  Avith  them,  inspecting  the  institution,  at- 
tending examinations,  administering  discipline,  and  in  preacliing  on 
the  Sabbath ;  he  Avas  in  fact  one  of  the  most  active  and  efficient  of 
those  Avho  aided  in  restoring  the  college  from  its  disaster ;  refusing 


COLLEGE   OP   NEW   JERSEY.  31 

also  to  receive  any  remuneration  for  liis  valuable  services.  In  a  sliort 
time,  by  the  united  labors  and  great  liberality  of  its  friends,  "  the 
building  rose  like  a  phoenix  from  its  ashes;"  a  larger  library  was 
obtained,  more  ample  and  convenient  accommodations  were  provided 
for  the  students,  and  for  several  years  after  this  event  the  increase 
of  pupils  was  greater  than  had  ever  been  before  known.  Dr.  Smith 
here  appears  also  to  have  been  another  of  the  principal  agents  in  re- 
storing the  institution  to  such  a  pitch  of  prosperity  and  usefulness. 

From  this  period  nothing  happened  but  such  as  is  common  in  places 
of  public  instruction  till  1812,  when  the  venerable  President,  af- 
ter repeated  attacks  of  the  palsy,  and  feeling  himself  unable  to  attend 
to  his  duties  in  the  college,  resigned  his  office,  much  to  the  regret  of 
the  students  and  friends  of  the  institution.  This  took  place  at  the 
commencement  this  year,  after  Avhich  he  retired  to  a  house  allotted 
him  by  the  trustees  ;  they  also  continued  the  greater  part  of  his 
salary  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.     He  died  August  21st,  1819. 

"  The  spirit  of  insubordination,  which  showed  itself  among  the  stu- 
dents, and  their  increasing  tendency  to  tumult  and  revolt  against  the 
exercise  of  just  and  lawful  authority,  was  the  spring  out  of  which 
flowed  all  Dr.  Smith's  anxieties  and  difficulties  in  discliargino-  the  du- 
ties  of  his  high  and  responsible  station.  From  this  fruitful  source, 
storm  after  storm  succeeded  in  the  institution,  which  required  all  the 
address,  influence,  and  knowledge  of  human  nature,  which  he  could 
summon  to  his  aid,  to  prevent  from  leading  to  its  utter  ruin.  On 
these  occasions  his  readiness  of  resource,  his  firmness  and  decision  of 
character,  his  commanding  powers  of  eloquence,  and  all  those  talents 
that  constitute  real  greatness,  as  it  is  capable  of  being  exhibited  in 
active  life,  conspicuously  appeared.  The  dignity  of  his  presence 
overawed  disaflection  and  revolt.  Never  did  he  address  himself  in 
vain  to  the  students  under  his  care.  His  eloquent  appeals  to  their 
understandings,  their  pride  of  character,  and  their  sense  of  duty  were 
always  irresistible.  Armed  with  his  powers,  the  authority  of  college 
never  failed  to  triumph.  Confusion  and  wild  uproar  heard  his  voice 
and  was  still." 

Rev.  Ashbel  Green  was  unanimously  elected,  August  14th,  1812,  to 
succeed  Dr.  Smith  in  the  Presidency  of  Nassau  Hall.  Dr.  Miller 
was  active  in  this  election,  having  visited  every  member  of  the  board 
of  trustees  and  persuaded  them  to  vote  for  him.  After  much  hesita- 
tion, through  the  advice  of  friends,  among  whom  were  Dr.  Rush  and 
others,  he  accepted  the  appointment,  resigning  his  pastoral  charge,  and 
assuming  the  chief  authority  in  the  institution  in  which  he  had  form- 
erly been  a  tutor  during  the  time  of  Dr.  Witherspoon. 

Dr.  AVoodhull  and  his  son  appeared  before  the  Presbytery  on  the 
part  of  the  trustees  asking  for  his  dismissal,  and  on  October  29th,  he 
left  Philadelphia  and  came  to  Princeton.  The  faculty  of  the  college 
then  comprised.  Dr.  Green,  President ;  Mr.  Slack,  Vice  President ; 
Mr.  Lindsley  as  senior,  and  Mr.  Clark  as  junior  tutor.  They  met 
before  the  close  of  the  vacation  and  agreed  to  hold  a  day  of  special 
prayer  in  view  of  the  duties  before  them ;  they  held  one  meeting  to- 
gether, and  then  each  member  kept  the  day  in  private  by  himself. 


32  HISTORICAL   SKETCH   OF  THE 

The  President's  first  address  produced  considerable  eifect,  some  being 
even  moved  to  tears  ;  this  however  was  transitory,  for  to  his  mortifi- 
cation he  found  most  of  the  students  bent  on  giving  trouble.  From 
his  account  it  seems  that  discipline  had  grown  somewhat  lax  previous 
to  his  arrival,  and  he  entered  on  his  duties  with  the  determination  to 
reform  it  or.  fall  in  the  attempt ;  and  for  some  time  it  seemed  uncer- 
tain which  alternative  would  folloAV.  He  had  cards  of  invitation 
printed,  and  adopted  the  plan  of  bringing  the  students  in  companies 
of  eight  to  his  own  table.  This  had  little  effect  in  reclaiming  the  evil 
ones,  and  was  abandoned  after  March  11th,  1814.  President  Green 
says  : — "  The  trustees  of  the  college  also  failed  to  make  a  Board,  both 
at  the  beginning  and  end  of  the  session ;  so  that  I  had  to  contend  with 
the  disorderly  students  without  taking  the  oath  of  office.  Tliis  hap- 
pily was  unknown  to  the  young  rogues,  or  perhaps  they  were  ignorant 
that  it  was  necessary ;  otherwise  they  would  have  made  the  plea,  tliat  I 
was  not  the  lawful  President  of  the  college.  One  of  the  trustees  who  re- 
sided in  Princeton  told  a  friend  of  mine,  who  repeated  it  to  me,  that 
I  would  not  be  able  to  maintain  my  ground  against  the  insubordinate 
youths  of  the  institution.  In  this  however  he  made  a  mistake.  The 
session  closed  triumphantly  in  favor  of  the  authority  of  the  college." 
At  this  period  every  sort  of  devisable  insubordination  was  practiced. 
It  was  borne  for  a  short  time,  but  at  last  became  intolerable.  Three 
or  four  during  the  session  were  admonished,  and  seven  or  eight  dis- 
missed. The  custom  was  introduced  of  sending  private  circulars  to 
the  parents  or  guardians  of  each  student,  containing  his  literary  stand- 
ing and  moral  conduct,  besides  requesting  their  advice  in  assisting  the 
instruction  and  discipline  of  the  college.  Contrary  to  the  usual  cus- 
tom, the  junior  and  senior  classes  from  the  llcvolution  till  this  time 
read  no  Greek  or  Latin,  their  whole  time  being  occupied  witli  mathe- 
matics, natural  and  moral  philosophy,  belles-lettres,  criticism,  compo- 
sition, and  eloquence.  And  in  President  Green's  own  class,  one  of  its 
members  did  not  even  know  the  Greek  alphabet,  yet  was  admitted  to 
the  bachelor's  degree.  Another  came  to  him  Avith  Dr.  Witherspoon's 
Latin  Salutatory,  desiring  him  to  construe  it ;  and  as  late  as  his  pre- 
sidency, one  man  in  the  senior  class  was  found  "  totally  ignorant  of 
classical  literature."  It  was  now  ordered  that  the  senior  class  pre- 
pare a  recitation  in  Longinus.  Very  few  of  them  could  do  this,  and 
as  the  fault  was  not  theirs,  the  Iliad  was  substituted.  At  the  next 
commencement  in  1813,  there  occurred  a  large  addition  to  the  number 
of  students.  At  the  meeting  of  trustees  in  May,  the  measures  of  the 
faculty  during  the  preceding  session  were  sanctioned.  After  this 
meeting  the  President  attended  the  General  Assembly,  and  with  others 
succeeded  in  getting  the  vote  for  the  location  of  the  Presbyterian 
(0.  S.)  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton.  He  also  nominated  Dr. 
Miller,  at  the  request  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  for  the  professorsliip 
of  Ecclesiastical  History  and  Church  Government.  After  his  return 
to  Princeton  he  heard  the  theological  students  recite  "  Blair's  Lec- 
tures," accompanied  with  his  own  remarks  on  composition;  this  he  did 
at  the  re(iucst  of  Dr.  Alexander,  Dr.  Miller  not  being  yet  in  office. 
Many  of  the  students  at  tliis  time,  together  with  the  tutor,  Mr.  Lind- 


COLLEGE  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  33 

sley,  were  very  sick  ;  more  being  ill  this  session  than  during  the  whole 
of  President  Green's  administration.  In  his  government  of  the  col- 
lege he  confesses  his  mistake  in  thinking  that,  when  the  institution  was 
once  reduced  to  a  quiet  and  orderly  state,  it  would  continue  so,  not 
considering  that  it  changes  its  inmates  every  four  years  ;  he  found  by 
experience  that  discipline  must  always  be  exercised,  else  disorder 
would  certainly  ensue.  During  two  weeks,  after  the  session  of  1814 
began,  the  utmost  order  and  regularity  prevailed.  The  system  of  the 
President  seemed  to  be  operating  well,  and  already  he  was  felicitating 
himself  on  its  success,  when  suddenly,  without  any  obvious  cause,  dis- 
order began  to  appear  and  mischievous  attempts  of  all  sorts  were  made. 
Part  of  the  "south  campus"  was  burned,  and  an  "infernal  machine" 
fired  in  the  college  building ;  stealing  was  carried  on,  the  walls  were 
disfigured,  and  on  the  way  to  the  refectory  "  clapping,  hissing,  and 
screaming' '  were  the  order  of  the  day ;  the  whole  assuming  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  deep  laid  conspiracy  to  overturn  the  order  and  autho- 
rity of  the  college.  This  state  of  things  went  on  till  the  "Big 
Cracker"  capped  the  climax,  on  the  evening  of  January  9th,  1814. 
The  following  account  of  it  is  derived  from  President  Green's  report 
to  the  trustees : 

On  Sabbath,  Jan.  9,  1814,  it  was  discovered,  about  two  o'clock 
A.  M.,  that  the  college  privy  was  on  fire.  The  steward  being  the 
first  to  see  it,  called  upon  the  tutors,  who,  with  some  orderly  students, 
soon  extinguished  the  fire  so  noiselessly,  that  the  majority  of  the  stu- 
dents did  not  know  it  till  daylight.  In  the  morning  it  was  discovered 
that  the  door  of  the  prayer  hall  had  been  opened  and  entered,  either 
by  the  carelessness  or  treachery  of  the  servant  having  the  key,  and 
that  arrangements  had  been  made  for  a  most  destructive  work,  in  con- 
nection with  the  other  fire.  Loose  powder,  some  tinder,  and  a  lax-ge 
peg,  were  found  on  the  stage  before  the  pulpit.  The  day  passed  off 
quietly,  but  in  the  evening,  a  little  after  nine  o'clock,  the  tremendous 
explosion  of  the  "Big  Cracker,"  took  place.  This  was  made  by  en- 
closing about  two  pounds  of  powder  in  a  log,  and  then  by  a  train,  set- 
ting it  off.  The  explosion  cracked  the  adjacent  walls  from  top  to  bot- 
tom, and  broke  nearly  all  the  glass  in  the  entry,  besides  considerable 
in  the  other  entries,  and  forced  part  of  the  wood  through  the  door  of 
the  prayer  hall,  opposite.  Providentially,  no  one  was  injured,  though 
the  tutors  and  a  number  of  students  passed  it  only  a  few  minutes  be- 
fore the  discharge.  The  President  being  in  his  study,  hastened  to  the 
college.  Soon,  the  students  peaceably  retired  to  their  rooms.  The 
faculty  held  a  meeting  in  a  student's  room,  secured  the  remains  of  the 
infernal  machine,  made  arrangements  for  watching  the  building  all 
night,  took  measures  for  investigating  the  matter  next  morning,  and 
adjourned  a  little  after  midnight.  From  the  appearance  of  the  tiling, 
it  was  concluded  that  it  had  been  prepared  out  of  the  college  edifice ; 
at  all  events,  it  appeared,  and  was  afterwards  confessed  by  one  of  the 
actors  in  the  affair,  that  the  design  was  to  start  the  fire  in  the  prayer 
hall,  while  the  other  building  was  burning,  and  had  this  plan  succeeded, 
it  is  impossible  to  calculate  the  damage  that  might  have  been  done. 
On  Monday  (the  next  day)  efforts  were  made  to  ferret  out  the  guilty 
5 


34  HISTORICAL    SKETCH    OF   THE 

parties  ;  but  for  two  days  in  vain.  At  length  proof  was  obtained 
against  two  persons  in  town,  who  were  formerly  students,  that  they 
were  engaged  in  constructing  the  cracker.  A  prosecution  in  the 
criminal  court  was  immediately  commenced  against  these,  and  they 
were  held  to  appear  and  stand  their  trial  in  Ncav  Brunswick,  on  the 
8th  of  March.  One  of  them,  on  account  of  his  youth  and  compara- 
tive innocence,  was  discharged.  But  their  arrest  and  prosecution  Avas 
the  signal  for  other  disorders  in  college ;  the  management  of  the  affair 
became  very  difficult,  as  not  an  individual,  for  a  number  of  days,  could 
be  found  guilty.  The  leaders  of  the  disorder  also  incited  the  younger 
students  to  act,  while  they  kept  themselves  screened.  On  the  day  of 
the  trial,  seven  students  were  subpoenaed  as  witnesses,  some  being 
suspected,  and  some  not.  They,  with  the  senior  tutor,  Avho  was  also 
subpoenaed,  started  for  New  Brunswick,  and  were  gone  three  days. 
The  principal  culprit  pleaded  guilty,  threw  himself  on  the  mercy  of 
the  court,  and  was  fined  one  hundred  dollars  and  the  costs  of  the  pro- 
secution. Four  declined  giving  testimony,  on  the  plea  of  implicating 
themselves.  This  was  expected,  and  enabled  the  trustees  to  exercise 
their  authority,  and  dismiss  them  from  the  college.  After  dismissal, 
one  of  them,  a  member  of  the  senior  class,  returned  to  the  President 
and  said  that  all  concerned  in  the  plot  were  wilhng  to  surrender 
themselves  to  the  discretion  of  the  faculty.  A  meeting  was  then 
called,  and  nine  appeared  and  confessed,  declaring  they  were  all  (this 
was  untrue)  that  were  concerned  in  the  affair,  and  asked  forgiveness ; 
they  were  forgiven,  on  condition  that  their  conduct  in  future  should 
be  unexceptionable ;  but  if  not  so,  then  their  former  behavior  would 
be  called  into  account.  Some  time  afterwards,  the  chief  culprit  re- 
turned, but  the  President  sent  him  a  note,  forbidding  him  to  come  on 
the  college  grounds.  The  next  day,  during  examination,  crackers 
were  brought  in ;  the  fticulty  met  in  a  tutor's  room,  and  resolved  to 
dismiss  two  or  three  students.  On  the  following  day,  the  faculty  ad- 
monished four  students,  and  dismissed  two.  Another  meeting  was 
held  in  the  evening,  and  a  pistol  was  fired  at  the  door  of  one  of  the 
tutors.  On  the  following  day,  another  cracker  was  heard  in  the 
building,  and  in  the  evening  a  company  of  students  behaved  very  im- 
properly in  the  front  campus.  Afterwards  a  student  was  dismissed 
for  writing  an  insolent  letter  to  a  trustee ;  two  others  were  similarly 
treated,  and  the  remainder  called  up  and  required  to  renounce  their 
insubordinate  principles,  and  thus  the  matter  ended. 

During  the  collegiate  year  of  1814,  nothing  unusual  occurred,  ex- 
cept the  suicide  of  a  youth  who  had  been  sent  to  a  grammar  school 
about  four  miles  from  Princeton.  Students  were  often  sent  off  in  this 
way,  when  they  came  to  college,  unfitted  for  any  of  the  regular  classes. 
At  this  time,  the  students  of  the  Theological  Semiiuiry  worshiped 
with  the  college  students,  on  the  Sabbath.  Drs.  Miller  and  Alexan- 
der taking  turns,  with  Dr.  Green,  in  preaching  to  them.  It  was 
during  this  winter  and  the  spring  of  1815,  that  tlie  great  revival  of 
religion,  during  the  presidency  of  Dr.  Green,  took  place.  He  gives 
the  foUowmg  account  of  it : 

"  On  this  subject,  I  have  thought  it  my  duty  to  make  a  correct, 


COLLEGE    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  35 

tliough  it  must  be  a  very  summary,  statement  to  tlie  Board ;  both  be- 
cause the  subject  is  important  and  interesting  in  itself,  and  because 
imperfect  and  erroneous  accounts  respecting  it  have  been  circu- 
lated. 

"  For  nearly  a  year  past,  that  is,  since  the  commencement  of  the 
last  summer  session,  a  very  large  proportion  of  the  students  have  at- 
tended on  all  the  religious  exercises  and  instructions  of  the  college, 
with  more  than  ordinary  seriousness,  and  the  minds  of  some  of  them, 
as  now  appears,  were  ripening,  through  this  whole  period,  for  what 
has  since  taken  place.  There  was  nothing  more  apparent,  however, 
for  six  weeks  after  the  commencement  of  the  present  session,  than  an 
increase  of  this  serious  attention  to  the  religious  duties  of  college  ;  an 
increase  both  of  the  degree  of  seriousness,  and  of  the  number  of  those 
in  whom  it  was  visible.  Every  religious  service,  both  on  secular  days 
and  on  the  Sabbath,  was  attended  with  a  solemnity,  which  was  sensi- 
ble and  impressive.  In  this  manner  the  revival  commenced,  or  rather 
became  apparent,  in  the  second  week  of  January,  (the  session  began 
six  weeks  after  the  last  Wednesday  in  September,)  without  any  un- 
usual occurrence  in  providence,  without  any  alarming  event,  without 
any  extraordinary  preaching,  without  any  special  instruction,  or  other 
means  that  might  be  supposed  peculiarly  adapted  to  interest  the  mind. 
The  divine  influence  seemed  to  descend  like  the  silent  dew  of  heaven ; 
and,  in  about  four  weeks,  there  Avere  very  few  individuals  in  the  col- 
lege edifice,  who  Avere  not  deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of  the  im- 
portance of  spiritual  and  eternal  things. 

"  There  was  scarcely  a  room,  perhaps  not  one,  which  was  not  a 
place  of  earnest,  secret  devotion.  For  a  time,  it  appeared  as  if  the 
whole  of  our  charge  Avas  pressing  into  the  kingdom  of  God ;  so  that, 
at  length,  the  inquiry  in  regard  to  them,  was  not,  who  was  engaged 
about  religion  ?  but,  who  was  not  ?  After  this  state  of  things  had 
continued,  without  much  variation,  for  about  two  months,  it  became 
manifest  that  a  change  was  taking  place.  Some  were  becoming  con- 
firmed in  the  hopes  and  habits  of  evangelical  piety;  some  were  yet 
serious,  thoughtful,  and  prayerful,  though  perhaps  not  in  so  great  a 
degree,  or  at  least,  not  so  apparently,  as  once  they  had  been ;  while 
some  were  plainly  losing  the  impressions  which  they  had  lately  felt. 
And  such  has  continued  to  be  the  state  of  this  interesting  concern  to 
the  time  of  making  this  report.  The  result  is,  tliat  there  are  some- 
thing more  than  forty  students,  in  regard  to  whom,  so  far  as  the  time 
elapsed  Avill  permit  us  to  judge,  favorable  hopes  may  be  entertained 
that  they  have  been  made  the  subjects  of  renewing  grace.  Perhaps 
there  are  twelve  or  fifteen  more,  Avho  still  retain  such  promising  im- 
pressions of  religion,  as  to  authorize  a  hope  that  the  issue,  in  regard 
to  most  of  them,  may  be  favourable.  And  nearly  the  whole  of  the 
remainder  show  a  great  readiness  to  attend  on  all  the  social  exercises 
of  religion ;  not  only  on  those  which  are  stated  and  customary,  but 
those  which  are  occasional,  and  the  attendance  on  which  is  entirely 
voluntary.  Thus,  of  the  students  who  are  now  in  the  college,  a  ma- 
jority may  be  viewed  as  hopefully  pious,  and  a  large  proportion  of  the 


36  HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE 

residue  appear  to  possess  mucli  tenderness  of  conscience,  and  show  a 
very  desirable  regard  to  religious  duties  and  obligations. 

"  It  has  already  been  intimated  that  this  revival  of  religion  com- 
"menced  without  noise,  and  without  any  other  means  than  those  which 
had  been  a  considerable  time  in  use.  But  having  thought  it  my  duty 
to  converse  with  my  pupils,  as  often  as  they  requested  it,  at  the  time 
when  their  minds  were  filled  with  anxious  fears  and  inquiries ;  and 
also  to  examine  them  individually  and  carefully,  since  hope  has,  in 
some  measure,  succeeded  to  fear,  I  have  had  a  favorable  opportunity 
to  inquire,  and  have  attentively  inquired,  after  the  instrumental 
causes  of  this  revival,  as  indicated  by  the  views  and  feelings  of  the 
parties  concerned.  Four  such  causes  appear  to  have  had  a  manifest 
agency : — 

"  1.  And  chiefly,  the  study  of  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  accompanied  with 
comments  on  the  portion  read,  and  a  practical  application  of  the  lead- 
ing truths  contained  in  it.  God  has  remarkably  honored  and  blessed 
his  own  word.  Strange  as  it  may  seem,  this  study  of  the  Bible  has 
always  been  a  favorite  one  among  the  youth  of  the  college,  not  ex- 
cepting the  most  gay  and  dissipated.  Pains  have  indeed  been  taken 
to  render  it  interesting ;  but  the  degree  in  which  it  has  been  so,  has 
been  truly  surprising.  And,  under  the  divine  blessing,  it  has  served 
to  instruct  and  enlighten  the  youth  in  their  duty ;  it  has  rendered  their 
minds  solemn  and  tender,  beyond  what  they  were,  themselves,  aware 
of  at  the  time ;  it  has  given  them  a  deep  reverence  for  the  truths  of 
divine  revelation ;  it  has  qualified  them  to  hear  preaching  with  advan- 
tage ;  and  at  length,  revealed  truth  has,  we  trust,  been  powerfully  and 
effectually  applied  to  their  consciences,  by  the  Spirit  by  whom  it  was 
indited. 

"  2.  The  circumstances  in  which  the  students  have  attended  on  public 
\srorship,  have  been  peculiarly  favorable  to  their  religious  improve- 
ment. They  have  worshiped,  in  consequence  of  the  burning  of  the 
church  in  this  place,  in  the  prayer  hall  of  the  college,  for  more  than 
two  years  past.  For  about  eighteen  months  they  have  worshiped 
separately  from  the  people  of  the  town ;  and  have,  with  the  theologi- 
cal students,  who  joined  them  partially  at  first,  and  generally  of  late, 
formed  an  audience  or  congregation  by  themselves.  This  has  given  an 
opportunity,  which  has  been  carefully  improved,  to  choose  such  sub- 
jects, and  adopt  such  a  manner,  in  preaching  to  them,  as  appeared 
best  calculated  to  arrest  their  attention.  Appropriate  addresses  have 
frequently  been  made,  and  the  service  has,  in  all  respects,  been  con- 
ducted Avith  a  special  view  to  their  advantage  and  religious  edification. 
In  these  circumstances,  they  have  felt  an  unusual  interest  in  the 
solemnities  of  the  sanctuary,  they  have  felt  that  they  were  the  parties 
directly  and  particularly  concerned  in  these  solemnities,  and  the  good 
effects  of  this  sentiment  have  been  incalculably  great,  and  were  very 
apparent  before  the  revival  Avas  visible.  In  a  word,  this  mode  of  con- 
ducting public  worship  must  be  considered  as  having  been  a  powerful 
instrumental  cause,  both  in  producing  an  awakened  attention  to  reli- 
gion at  first,  and  in  cherishing  it  through  the  whole  of  its  progress. 

"  8.  The  effect  of  moral  discipline  has  been  manifestly  favorable  to 


COLLEGE    OF   NEW    JERSEY.  87 

this  revival.  This  discipline,  vigorously  and  vigilantly  maintained, 
has  preserved  the  youth,  generally,  from  those  practices,  habits,  and 
vicious  indulgences,  which  counteract,  dissipate,  and  destroy  all  serious 
and  religious  impressions.  It  has  had  an  influence  in  preventing 
that  hardness  of  heart  and  insensibility  of  conscience,  which  are  the 
natural  and  usual  effects  of  unrestrained  vice.  It  has  formed  a  practi- 
cal testimony  against  the  moral  vileness  of  several  things  which  youth 
are  apt  to  consider,  if  not  as  entirely  innocent,  yet,  as  evidences  of 
manliness  and  spirit.  After  many  efforts  to  resist  these  effects  of  dis- 
cipline, by  the  least  virtuous  part  of  the  college,  the  attempt  Avas  seen 
to  be  in  vain ;  and  it  was  clearly  perceived  that  the  effects  mentioned  were 
sensibly  felt,  by  the  great  mass  of  the  students,  before  the  revival.  It 
was  also  very  noticeable  that  the  revival  made  its  appearance  with  an 
act  of  discipline.  A  student  (one  of  three  dismissed  at  the  same  time) 
was  almost  immediately  seized  with  a  remorse  of  conscience  and  an- 
guish of  mind  that  were  very  affecting,  he  has  since  become  hopefully 
pious.  But  before  anything  of  this  was  known  in  the  college,  the  re- 
marks which  were  made  when  the  dismission  of  the  three  students  was 
announced,  seemed  to  produce  a  powerful  effect  on  a  number ;  and 
during  that  week  feelings  and  exercises  which  had,  in  a  certain  de- 
gree, long  existed  in  secret,  could  no  longer  be  concealed.  Nearly  at 
the  same  time,  an  admonition,  given  in  private,  was  remarkably  blessed 
to  the  individual  concerned. 

"4.  The  few  pious  youth  who  were  members  of  college  before  the  re- 
vival, were  happily  instrumental  in  promoting  it.  They  had,  for  more 
than  a  year,  been  earnestly  engaged  in  prayer  for  this  event.  When 
they  perceived  the  general  and  increasing  seriousness  which  has  been 
noticed,  several  of  them  made  an  agreement  to  speak,  privately  and 
tenderly,  to  their  particular  friends  and  acquaintances,  on  the  subject 
of  religion.  And  what  they  said  was,  in  almost  every  instance,  not 
only  well  received,  but  those  with  whom  they  conversed  became  imme- 
diately and  earnestly  engaged  in  those  exercises  which,  it  is  hoped, 
have  issued  in  genuine  piety.  A  public  profession  of  religion,  made 
by  two  of  the  students  wdio  had  been  a  good  wdiile  thoughtful,  had  also 
at  this  time  much  influence,  apparently,  both  in  producing  and  deep- 
ening impressions  in  many  others. 

"The  special  means  made  use  of  to  promote  and  cherish  this  revival, 
besides  the  circumstances  already  mentioned,  were  the  following :  A 
short  address  on  the  subject  of  religion  was  made,  after  prayers,  on 
every  Saturday  evening.  In  preaching  on  the  Lord's  day  morning, 
subjects  were  selected  suited  to  the  existing  state  of  the  college  ;  in 
this  particular  we  are  deeply  indebted  to  the  theological  professors, 
who  have  generally  conducted  the  morning  service.  A  particular  re- 
ference was  often  made  to  the  religious  attention  which  had  been  ex- 
cited among  the  students,  in  the  marks  which  accompanied  their  Bible 
recitations.  A  weekly  lecture,  intended  for  the  students  exclusively, 
was  given  by  myself,  on  every  Tuesday  evening.  A  social  prayer- 
meeting  was  held,  on  every  Friday  evening,  at  which  one  of  the  theo- 
logical professors  commonly  made  an  address.  A  family  prayer  meet- 
ing (as  the  students  called  it)  was,  every  evening,  held  among  them- 


38  HISTORICAL    SKETCH    OF    THE 

selves,  at  which  a  large  proportion  of  the  whole  college  attended. 
Smaller  and  more  select  associations  for  prayer  were  also  formed.  The 
individuals  whose  minds  were  anxious  and  laboring,  were,  as  often  as 
they  requested  it,  carefully  conversed  and  prayed  with  in  private ;  in 
this  service  I  am  to  acknowledge  the  assistance  receiTed  from  the  pro- 
fessors of  the  Seminary,  from  their  pupils,  and  from  the  pious  students 
of  the  college.  Finally,  writings  of  approved  character,  on  doctrinal 
and  practical  religion,  were  pointed  out  and  recommended  to  the  peru- 
sal of  the  students ;  and  a  short  system  of  questions  and  counsel  was 
drawn  up  by  myself,  for  the  use  of  those  who  began  to  cherish  the  hope 
that  they  had  entered  on  a  life  of  practical  piety. 

"  Having  thus  mentioned  the  chief  instrumental  causes  of  this  revi- 
val, and  the  means  used  to  cherish  it,  to  guard  it,  and  to  direct  it,  I 
shall  conclude  my  report  on  this  subject  with  a  few  short  remarks, 
offered  with  a  view  to  give  a  correct  apprehension  of  its  nature  and 
character. 

"1.  It  has  been,  so  far  as  I  am  able  to  judge,  remarkably  free  from 
extravagance  and  enthusiasm.  I  know  of  nothing,  in  regard  to  this 
revival,  that  I  think  would  be  called  extravagant  or  enthusiastic,  by 
any  one  who  really  believes  in  the  great  doctrines  of  the  Protestant 
Reformation.  Particular  pains  were  early  taken  to  guard  against  the 
evil  here  contemplated;  and,  by  the  divine  blessing,  they  have  been 
made  so  successful,  that  I  am  not  acquainted  with  a  single  incident  or 
occurrence,  indicative  of  intemperate  feeling  or  conduct,  that  we  are 
called  to  regret. 

"  2.  There  has  been  no  sectarian  spirit  accompanying  or  mingling 
with  this  revival.  There  are  students  in  the  college  belonging  to  four 
or  five  different  denominations  of  Christians.  At  first,  there  appeared 
to  be  some  apprehension  in  the  minds  of  those  who  were  not  Presby- 
terians, lest  they  should  be  drawn  into  a  union  with  this  denomination 
if  they  yielded  to  the  sentiments  and  feelings  which  began  to  be  pre- 
valent. But  I  told  them,  in  the  first  address  that  I  made  to  them  on 
a  Tuesday  evening,  that  it  was  my  fixed  purpose  to  inculcate  no  doc- 
trine or  tenet  that  was  not  found  in  all  the  public  orthodox  creeds  of 
Protestant  Christendom — that  I  was  indeed  earnestly  desirous  that 
they  should  all  become  real  practical  Christians,  but  that  I  had  no 
wish  to  make  a  single  proselyte.  This,  I  believe,  removed  every  ap- 
prehension, and  the  intimation  then  given  has  been  sacredly  regarded. 
Not  a  single  thing  has  been  said  by  myself,  nor,  I  am  persuaded,  by 
the  theological  professors  who  have  preached  to  them,  that  has  had  any 
intentional  tendency  towards  proselytism.  On  the  contrary,  every 
thing  has  been  general.  The  great  catholic  doctrines  of  the  gospel 
have  been  exclusively  inculcated.  It  is  believed  that  there  is  not  an 
individual  of  the  college  who  would,  if  questioned,  complain  that  he 
has,  in  any  instance,  felt  himself  pressed  with  opinions  which  inter- 
fered with  his  educational  creed. 

''  8,  There  has  been  no  neglect  of  study.  A  report  was  circulated 
that  study  was  laid  aside  in  the  college  to  attend  to  religion.  Nothing 
could  be  more  false.  Study  has  probably  never  been  pursued  with 
more  diligence  and  success.     Our  pupils  were  informed  that  if  at  any 


COLLEGE  OF   NEW   JERSEY.  39 

particular  recitation,  an  individual  should  find  that  his  mind  had  been 
so  exercised  as  not  to  permit  him  to  get  his  lesson,  he  should,  on  ap- 
plication to  his  teacher,  be  specially  excused  ;  and  this  indulgence  has 
been  frequently  asked  and  granted.  But  not  a  single  recitation  of  a 
class  has  been  omitted ;  and  every  individual  lesson  or  recitation,  in- 
cidentally omitted,  has  been  strictly  required  to  be  made  up  for  the 
quarterly  and  semi-annual  examinations.  It  was  early  and  earnestly 
inculcated  on  the  youth  of  the  college,  that  not  only  did  Christian 
duty  require  as  regular  an  attention  as  possible  to  all  the  lawful  con- 
cerns of  life,  but  that  their  minds  would  act  more  vigorously  and  more 
correctly  on  religious  subjects,  and  in  religious  duties,  if  a  suitable 
portion  of  their  time  should  be  diligently  employed  in  their  proper 
studies. 

"  There  have  been  no  compulsory  exercises.  Every  thing,  beyond 
the  stated  religious  instructions  and  duties  of  the  college  in  ordinary 
times,  has  been  perfectly  voluntary;  unless  the  short  address,  on 
Saturday  evening  after  prayers,  may  be  considered  as  a  slight  exception. 
No  one  has  suifered  either  censure  or  reproach,  who  chose  to  be  absent 
from  any  religious  exercise  or  engagement  which  had  its  origin  in  this 
revival. 

"  Such,  gentlemen,  is  the  statement  which  I  have  judged  it  proper 
to  make  to  you,  in  regard  to  a  work  which,  in  its  salutary  efficiency, 
has  been  all  of  God ;  and  the  whole  praise  of  Avhich  is  to  be  ascribed, 
most  unfeignedly,  to  Him  alone." 

When  the  revival  began,  the  whole  number  of  students  was  one 
hundred  and  five ;  of  these  twelve  were  professors  of  religion.  Dr. 
Green  mentions  that,  "On  the  26th  September,  1815,  in  the  after- 
noon, the  Directors  being  present,  we  laid  the  corner-stone  of  the 
Theological  Seminary.  I  introduced  the  services  with  a  few  remarks. 
Dr.  Alexander  then  read  the  introduction  of  the  plan  of  the  Seminary ; 
and  I  then  made  a  prayer  standing  on  the  stone,  which  was  after- 
wards deposited."  Most  of  the  subjects  of  the  revival  belonged  to  the 
senior  class  which  consisted  of  forty-two  members.  The  accession 
at  the  beginning  of  the  next  session  was  greater  than  usual,  sixty  be- 
ing admitted  and  making  the  total  number  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
six.  In  regard  to  the  government,  discipline,  and  moral  and  religious 
state  of  the  institution  at  this  time.  Dr.  Green  says  : — "  Our  winter 
sessions  are  always  considered  as  more  exposed  to  difiiculty  in  main- 
taining good  order  in  the  college  than  the  summer  session.  The  con- 
finement occasioned  by  the  weather,  the  length  of  the  nights,  and 
other  circumstances  of  the  season,  seem  to  generate  and  favor  mis- 
chievous designs  beyond  what  takes  place  in  other  portions  of  the 
year.  It  has  already  been  stated  that  we  had  an  accession  of  sixty 
students  last  fall ;  and  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  there  was  a  com- 
bination formed,  similar  to  the  one  which  took  place  two  years  before. 
In  fact  the  very  same  violations  of  law,  in  all  their  varieties,  were  at- 
tempted and  begun." 

By  the  prompt  and  vigilant  exertions  of  the  faculty,  however,  they 
were  very  soon  counteracted ;  and  on  the  whole,  proved  a  feeble  and 
abortive  effort. 


40  HISTORICAL    SKETCH    OF   THE 

"About  mid-winter,  there  was  for  a  fortnight  a  very  peculiar  state 
of  things  in  regard  to  religion.  Almost  every  member  of  the  house, 
the  profane  as  well  as  the  pious,  seemed  to  be  held  in  still  and  sol- 
emn suspense,  waiting  for  and  expecting  another  revival  of  religion. 
Two  individuals  Avere  very  deeply  affected,  and  a  number  more  were 
slightly  impressed.  But  here  the  favorable  indications  terminated; 
and  in  two  weeks  more,  everything  returned  to  its  ordinai-y  state, 
and  has  so  continued  till  the  present  time.  It  is  proper  that  the 
Board  should  be  informed  that  we  judged  it  to  be  indispensable  to 
commence  prosecutions  in  no  less  than  three  instances  against  students 
that  had  been  dismissed  from  the  college  for  insults  and  injuries  com- 
mitted by  them  after  their  dismission.  Two  dismissed  students,  re- 
siding in  Trenton,  made  an  expedition  to  this  place  for  the  express 
purpose  of  exploding  gunpowder  in  the  college  edifice,  which  they  did 
in  a  manner  not  only  to  endanger  the  property  of  the  corporation,  but 
the  limbs  and  lives  of  the  students  of  the  institution.  They  were 
both  apprehended  and  bound  over  for  trial,  but  although  the  violation 
of  the  laAV  Avas  palpable,  and  the  proof  direct  and  unequivocal,  the 
grand  jury  refused  to  find  a  bill  of  indictment." 

In  the  first  session  in  1816,  little  out  of  the  usual  routine  happened 
except  the  suspension  of  three,  and  the  dismission  of  seven  students. 
But  in  the  session  Avhich  began  in  November,  and  about  the  middle  of 
January,  1817,  crackers  were  again  fired  in  the  college,  and  on  the 
19th,  it  being  the  Sabbath,  a  serious  riot  began,  evidently  with  the 
intention  of  interrupting  or  preventing  the  usual  religious  exercises. 
This  project,  hoAvever,  was  providentially  defeated.  Dr.  Miller  con- 
ducted the  services  in  the  morning,  and  in  the  afternoon  at  the  Bible 
recitation,  the  President  spoke  to  the  students  about  the  matter. 

Dr.  Green  continues : — "  Last  night,  or  rather  this  morning  at  two 
o'clock,  there  Avas  a  A^ery  serious  riot  in  the  college.  A  great  deal 
of  glass  was  broken ;  an  attempt  AA^as  made  to  burn  the  out-buildings, 
and  the  bell  was  rung  incessantly.  The  doors  of  the  college,  of  the 
tutor's  rooms,  and  of  the  religious  students,  were  first  barred.  The 
vice-president  broke  into  the  college  through  a  window  in  the  base- 
ment story,  and  Avith  the  assistance  of  the  tutors  quelled  the  riot. 
Dr.  Miller  preached  in  the  prayer  hall  a  very  impressive  sermon  from 
the  words,  'Be  ye  also  ready,'  Avhich  Avas  improved  at  the  close 
as  a  kind  of  funeral  sermon  for  Dr.  DAvight."  The  next  day  it  Avas 
agreed  to  write  to  the  parents  of  three  of  the  students  to  remove  them 
from  college.  On  the  following  day  a  student  informed  the  President 
of  all  those  who  Avere  disaffected,  and  it  AA'as  found,  from  other  sources, 
that  the  rioters  were  determined  to  make  their  great  effort  that  night. 
Tliey  Avere  anticipated,  however,  and  fourteen  dismissed. 

During  tlic  session  of  1818  and  1819,  little  worthy  of  note  occurred, 
except  that  a  considerable  number  of  students  Averc  dismissed,  and 
others  "lectured"  before  the  faculty.  About  this  time  an  attempt 
was  made  to  induce  the  Legislature  to  patronize  the  college.  A  me- 
morial Avas  draughted  and  taken  to  Trenton  by  the  President  and 
some  of  the  trustees.  They  returned  home ;  and  after  efforts  to  get 
the  memorial  before  the  houses,  the  President  returned  also,  having 


COLLEGE    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  41 

little  hope  of  its  ultimate  siicess.  He  visited  Trenton  a  second  time, 
talked  with  every  influential  member  of  both  houses,  attended  their 
meetings  and  made  statements  favorable  to  the  institution.  They 
seemed  pleased  and  some  promised  to  favor  the  object,  so  that  he  came 
home  with  brighter  hopes  of  success,  but  like  many  previous  ones, 
they  were  doomed  to  disappointment.  It  was  not  without  reason 
thought,  that  those  who  voted  for  the  college,  would  not  have  done  so 
had  they  not  known  that  a  majority  was  against  them.  Dr.  Green 
remarks  : — "When  in  the  Revolutionary  war  of  our  country,  the  col- 
lege edifice  had  suiFered  greatly  from  being  a  barrack,  alternately 
for  each  of  the  contending  armies,  the  Legislature  of  the  State,  through 
the  influence  of  Dr.  Witherspoon,  had  voted  a  sum  of  money,  (I  think 
it  was  eighteen  hundred  pounds,)  strictly  appropriated  by  law  to  re- 
pair the  college  edifice,  { and  it  w^as  inadequate  to  the  purpose.)  Such 
was  the  state  of  the  popular  mind  in  New  Jersey,  that  the  members 
who  had  voted  to  repair  the  college  remained  at  home  at  the  next 
election.  Such  at  least  was  the  current  report,  and  which  was  fully 
believed.  The  members  of  the  Legislature,  from  a  desire  to  retain 
their  places,  refused  to  patronize  the  college.  Nor  has  it  ever  received 
any  patronage  (except  what  has  been  mentioned)  from  the  Legislature 
of  the  State,  although  it  brings  into  the  State  annually  some  thousands 
of  dollars." 

The  summer  session  began  May  13th,  1819,  with  a  considerable 
accession  of  students.  From  this  time  till  1822,  nothing  out  of  the 
usual  course  of  a  literary  institution  happened  till  February  of  that 
year,  wdien,  because  the  faculty  refused  to  give  a  holiday  to  all  the 
students,  a  written  memorial,  numerously  signed,  was  presented,  which 
"it  was  impossible  to  consider  in  any  other  light  than  as  an  insult." 
The  upshot  of  this  was  that  all  who  signed  it  had  to  disavow  their 
principles  before  a  meeting  of  the  faculty. 

At  the  spring  meeting  of  the  trustees,  they  resolved  to  discontinue  the 
professorship  of  Chemistry  and  Experimental  Philosophy.  President 
Green  opposed  this,  saying  that  if  any  objection  existed  against  his 
son,  (Avho  held  the  office,)  to  remove  him  at  once,  but  not  to  set  aside 
the  professorship,  as  in  his  opinion  it  would  be  an  injury  to  the  col- 
lege; his  remonstrances,  however,  were  useless.  This  circumstance 
seems  to  have  influenced  the  President  in  resigning  his  office,  and  is 
the  thing  meant  by  "  some  other  considerations  not  necessary  to  be 
specified,"  in  the  letter  of  resignation. 

"  To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey : 
•  "  Gentlemen, — My  age  and  infirmities,  with  some  other  considera- 
tions not  necessary  to  be  specified,  admonish  me  to  retire  from  the 
arduous  and  responsible  office  of  President  of  this  College.  That  of- 
fice therefore  I  do  hereby  resign,  conscious  of  having  endeavoured 
for  ten  A^cars  past  to  discharge  its  duties  wdth  fidelity,  and  often  with 
anxieties  and  exertions  which  I  ouglit  never  to  recollect  without  lively 
gratitude  to  God,  that  he  sustained  me  under  them.  In  bidding  adieu 
to  the  college,  it  affords  me  much  satisfaction  that  I  do  not  leave  it 
in  an  unprosperous  state ;  as  is  fully  evident,  I  apprehend,  from  the 
state  of  its  buildings,  its  literary  apparatus,  its  funds,  its  course  of 
6 


42  HISTORICAL    SKETCH    OF   THE 

study,  its  number  of  pupils,  its  reputation  among  sister  institutions, 
and  the  public  at  large.  That  it  may  prosper  yet  more  and  more, 
that  the  design  of  its  pious  founders  may  ever  be  sacredly  regarded, 
that  a  gracious  God  may  direct  all  your  counsels  and  bless  all  your 
measures  for  the  good  of  the  important  institution  committed  to  your 
care,  and  that  you  may  at  last  receive  the  reward  of  good  and  faithful 
servants,  is,  and  shall  be,  the  earnest  prayer  of, 

"  Gentlemen,  "with  great  respect, 

"Yom*  obedient  servant, 
"AsHBEL  Green. 

"Nassau  Hall,  Septeviher  21tJi,  1822." 

Thus  ended  the  successful  administration  of  Dr.  Green  ;  an  admin- 
istration which,  although  attended  with  many  difficulties  and  trials, 
yet  finally  closed  with  law  and  good  order  in  the  ascendency,  and  left  the 
institution  in  a  healthy  and  growing  condition.  President  Green  was 
in  the  habit  of  meeting  the  pious  students  weekly,  for  prayer  for  the 
revival  of  religion  in  the  college ;  and  an  agreement  existed  between 
the  professors  and  pupils  of  the  Seminary  to  offer  up  prayer  daily  at 
eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  for  a  revival  of  pure  religion  in  Nassau 
Hall,  as  well  as  in  the  other  colleges  of  the  country.  To  President 
Green  also  belongs  the  honor  of  first  introducing  the  study  of  the  Bi- 
ble into  the  college  as  a  regular  exercise  and  recitation ;  this  practice 
has  been  followed  by  other  colleges  in  the  country.  A  weekly  reli- 
gious lecture  for  the  benefit  of  the  students  was  also  by  him  established. 

"  Dr.  Green  was  succeeded  in  the  year  1823  by  the  Rev.  James 
Carnahan,  D.  D.,  who  held  the  chair  more  than  thirty  years  ;  probably 
the  period  most  marked  by  prosperity ;  which  it  has  largely  owed  to 
the  fidelity,  diligence,  wisdom,  and  exemplary  gentleness  of  this  excel- 
lent man.  President  Carnahan  is  reputed  an  excellent  classical 
scholar,  and  a  sound  teacher  of  philosophy  and  religion.  Less  bril- 
liant than  his  predecessors,  he  brought  to  the  service  of  education  a 
balance  and  constancy  of  solid  qualities,  and  an  administrative  talent 
in  finance,  which,  joined  to  proverbial  truth  and  uprightness,  have 
made  his  green  old  age  peculiarly  honorable.  His  agreeable  retire- 
ment is  within  sight  of  the  Tuscidum  of  Witherspoon." 

"  The  present  condition  of  Princeton  College  is  prosperous  in  a 
high  degree.  In  the  departments  of  jNIathematies  and  Physical  Sci- 
ence, it  has  acquired  some  eclat  from  the  methods  and  labors  of  Pro- 
fessor Henry,  now  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution,  but  again  professor 
elect  in  the  college,  and  the  eminent  astronomer,  Stephen  Alexander." 
In  regard  to  the  former  gentleman  much  has  been  said,  especially  in 
relation  to  the  magnetic  telegraph.  The  following  extracts  from  the 
minutes  of  the  annual  report  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution  for  the, 
year  1857,  may  set  this  matter  in  a  clearer  light.  Professor  Henry- 
says  : — 

"  In  the  discharge  of  the  important  and  responsible  duties  which 
devolve  upon  me  as  Secretary  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution,  I  have 
found  myself  exposed,  like  other  men  in  public  positions,  to  unpro- 
voked attack  and  injurious  misrepresentation.  Many  instances  of 
this,  it  may  be  remembered,  occurred  about  two  years  ago,  during  the 


COLLEGE   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  43 

discussions  relative  to  the  organic  policy  of  tlie  Institution.  .  .  . 
During  the  same  controversy,  however,  there  was  one  attack  made 
upon  me  of  such  a  nature,  so  elaborately  prepared  and  widely  circula- 
ted by  my  opponents,  that,  though  I  have  not  yet  publicly  noticed 
it,  I  have  from  the  first  thought  it  my  duty  not  to  allow  it  to  go  un- 
answered. I  allude  to  an  article  in  a  periodical,  entitled  '  Shaffner's 
Telegraph  Companion,'  from  the  pen  of  Professor  S.  F.  B.  Morse, 
the  celebrated  inventor  of  the  American  Electro-Magnetic  Telegraph. 
In  this,  not  my  scientific  reputation  merely,  but  my  moral  character 
was  pointedly  assailed;  indeed,  nothing  less  was  attempted  than  to 
prove  that  in  the  testimony  whicli  I  had  given,  in  a  case  where  I  was 
at  most  but  a  reluctant  witness,  I  had  consciously  and  wilfully  devia- 
ted from  the  truth,  and  this,  too,  from  unworthy  and  dishonorable 
motives.  Such  a  charge  coming  from  such  a  quarter,  appeared  to  me 
then,  as  it  appears  now,  of  too  grave  a  character  and  too  serious  a 
consequence  to  be  withheld  from  the  notice  of  the  Board  of  Regents. 
.  .  .  The  article  of  Mr.  Morse  was  published  in  1855,  but  at  the 
session  of  the  Board  in  1856  I  was  not  prepared  to  present  the  case 
properly  to  your  consideration,  and  I  now  (1857)  embrace  the  first 
opportunity  of  bringing  the  subject  ofiicially  to  your  notice,  and  asking 
from  you  an  investigation  into  the  justice  of  the  charges  alleged  against 
me.  .  .  .  My  life,  as  is  known  to  you,  has  been  principally  devo- 
ted to  science,  and  my  investigations  in  difierent  branches  of  physics 
have  given  me  some  reputation  in  the  line  of  original  discovery.  I 
have  sought,  however,  no  patent  for  inventions,  and  solicited  no  re- 
muneration for  my  labors,  but  have  freely  given  their  results  to  the 
world,  expecting  only  in  return,  to  enjoy  the  consciousness  of  having 
added,  by  my  investigations,  to  tlie  sum  of  human  knowledge,  and  to 
receive  the  credit  to  which  they  might  justly  entitle  me.  I  commenced 
my  scientific  career  about  the  year  1828,  with  a  series  of  experiments 
in  electricity,  which  were  continued  at  intervals  up  to  the  period  of 
my  being  honored  by  the  election  to  the  office  of  Secretary  of  this 
Institution.  The  object  of  my  researches  was  the  advancement  of 
science,  without  any  special  or  immediate  reference  to  its  application 
to  the  wants  of  life  or  useful  purposes  in  the  arts.  It  is  true,  never- 
theless, that  some  of  my  earlier  investigations  had  an  important  bear- 
ing on  the  electro-magnetic  telegraph,  and  brought  the  science  to  that 
point  of  development,  at  which  it  was  immediately  applicable  to  Mr. 
Morse's  particular  invention.  In  1831  I  published  a  brief  account 
of  these  researches,  in  which  I  dx'ew  attention  to  the  fact  of  their  ap- 
plicability to  the  telegraph  ;  and  in  1832,  and  subsequently,  exhibited 
experiments  illustrative  of  the  application  of  the  electro-magnet  to  the 
transmission  of  power  to  a  distance,  for  producing  telegraphic  and 
other  effects.  The  results  I  had  published  were  communicated  to  Mr. 
Morse,  by  his  scientific  assistant.  Dr.  Gale,  as  will  be  shown  on  the 
evidence  of  the  latter ;  and  the  facts  which  I  had  discovered  were 
promptly  applied  in  rendering  effective  the  operation  of  his  machine. 
"In  the  latter  part  of  1837,  I  became  personally  acquainted  with  Mr. 
Morse,  and  at  that  time  and  afterwards,  freely  gave  him  information 
in  regard  to  the  scientific  principles  which  had  been  the  subject  of  my 


44  HISTORICAL   SKETCH    OF   THE 

investigations.  After  Ins  return  from  Europe,  in  1839,  our  intercourse 
was  renewed,  and  continued  uninterrupted  till  1845.  In  that  year, 
Mr.  Vail,  a  partner  and  assistant  of  Mr.  Morse,  published  a  Avork  pur- 
porting to  be  a  history  of  the  telegraph,  in  which  I  conceived  manifest 
injustice  was  done  me.  I  complained  of  this  to  a  mutual  friend,  and 
subsequently  received  an  assurance  from  Mr.  Morse  that  if  another 
edition  were  published,  all  just  ground  of  complaint  shoidd  be  re- 
moved. A  new  emission  of  the  work,  however,  shortly  afterwards 
appeared,  without  change  in  this  respect,  or  further  reference  to  my 
labors.  Still  I  made  no  public  complaint,  and  set  up  no  claims  on 
account  of  the  telegraph.  .  .  .  After  this,  a  series  of  controver- 
sies and  lawsuits  having  arisen  between  rival  claimants  for  telegraphic 
patents,  I  was  repeatedly  appealed  to,  to  act  as  expert  and  wit- 
ness in  such  cases.  This  I  uniformly  declined  to  do,  not  wishing  to 
be  in  any  manner  involved  in  these  litigations,  but  was  j&nally  com- 
pelled, under  legal  process,  to  return  to  Boston  from  Maine,  whither  I 
had  gone  on  a  visit,  and  to  give  evidence  on  the  subject.  My  testi- 
mony was  given  with  the  statement  that  I  was  not  a  willing  witness, 
and  that  I  labored  under  the  disadvantage  of  not  having  access  to  my 
notes  and  papers,  which  were  in  Washington.  That  testimony,  how- 
ever, I  now  reaffirm  to  be  true  in  every  essential  particular.  It  was 
unirapeached  before  the  court,  and  exercised  an  influence  on  the  final 
decision  of  the  question  at  issue.  I  was  called  upon  on  that  occasion 
to  state,  not  only  what  I  had  published,  but  what  I  had  done,  and 
what  I  had  shown  to  others  in  regard  to  the  telegraph.  It  was  my 
wish,  in  every  statement,  to  render  Mr.  Morse  full  and  scrupidous  jus- 
tice. While  I  was  constrained,  therefore,  to  state  that  he  had  7nade 
no  discoveries  in  science,  I  distinctly  declared  that  he  Avas  entitled  to 
the  merit  of  combining  and  applying  the  discoveries  of  others,  in  the 
invention  of  the  best  practical  form  of  the  magnetic  telegraph.  My 
testimony  tended  to  establish  the  fact  that,  though  not  entitled  to  the 
exclusive  use  of  the  electro-magnet  for  telegraphic  purposes,'  he  was 
entitled  to  his  particular  machine,  register,  alphabet,  <fcc.  As  this, 
however,  did  not  meet  the  full  requirements  of  Mr.  Morse's  compre- 
hensive claim,  I  could  not  but  be  aware  that,  Avhile  aiming  to  depose 
nothing  but  truth  and  the  Avhole  truth,  and  while  so  doing  being  ob- 
liged to  speak  of  my  own  discoveries,  and  to  allude  to  the  omissions 
in  Mr.  Vail's  book,  I  might  expose  myself  to  the  possible,  and,  as  it 
has  proved,  the  actual  danger  of  having  my  motives  misconstrued  and 
my  testimony  misrepresented.  But  I  can  truly  aver,  in  accordance 
with  the  statement  of  the  counsel,  Mr.  Chase,  (now  governor  of  Ohio), 
that  I  had  no  desire  to  arrogate  to  myself  undue  merit,  or  to  detract 
from  the  just  claims  of  Mr.  Morse." 

Tliis  statement  Mr.  Henry  made  to  the  Board  of  Regents  of  the 
Smithsonian  Institution,  and  the  Chancellor,  Chief  Justice  Taney, 
stated  "  that  it  would  be  seen  by  the  report  of  the  decision  of  the 
Supreinc  Court,  in  the  case  in  Avhich  Professor  Henry  was  a  Avitness, 
that,  ill  the  opinion  of  the  court,  Professor  Morse  had  produced  no 
testunony  that  could  invalidate  the  testimony  of  Professor  Henry,  or 


COLLEGE  OF   NEW  JERSEY.  45 

impair  in  any  degree  its  weight,  and  gave  full  credit  to  it  in  the 
judgment  it  pronounced." 

A  special  committee  of  the  Board  of  Regents  was  appointed  to  inves- 
tigate this  affair.  The  following  extracts  are  from  the  report  of  said 
committee  :  "  The  committee  have  carefully  examined  the  documents 
relating  to  the  subject,  and  especially  the  article  to  which  the  commu- 
nication of  Professor  Henry  refers.  .  .  .  The  first  thing  which 
strikes  the  reader  of  this  article  is,  that  its  title  is  a  misnomer.  It  is 
simply  an  assault  upon  Professor  Henry  ;  an  attempt  to  disparage  his 
character ;  to  deprive  him  of  his  honors  as  a  scientific  discoverer ;  to 
impeach  his  credibility  as  a  witness  and  his  integrity  as  a  man.  It  is 
a  disingenuous  piece  of  sophistical  argument,  such  as  an  unscrupulous 
advocate  might  employ  to  pervert  the  truth,  misrepresent  the  facts, 
and  misinterpret  the  language  in  which  the  facts  belonging  to  the  other 
side  of  the  case  are  stated. 

"  Mr.  Morse  charges  that  the  deposition  of  Professor  Henry  '  con- 
tains imputations  against  his  (Morse's)  personal  character,'  which  it 
does  not ;  assumes  it  is  a  duty  '  to  expose  the  utter  non-reliability  of 
Professor  Henry's  testimony  ;'  that  testimony  being  supported  by  the 
most  competent  authorities,  and  by  the  history  of  scientific  discovery. 
He  asserts  that  he  '  is  not  indebted  to  him  (Professor  Henry)  for  any 
discovery  in  science  bearing  on  the  telegraph,'  he  having  himself 
acknowledged  such  indebtedness  in  the  most  unequivocal  manner,  and 
the  fact  being  independently  substantiated  by  the  testimony  of  Sears 
C.  Walker,  and  the  statement  of  Mr.  Morse's  own  associate,  Dr. 
Gale. 

"  The  essence  of  the  charges  against  Professor  Henry  is,  that  he  gave 
false  testimony  in  his  deposition  in  the  telegraph  cases,  and  that  he 
has  claimed  the  credit  of  discoveries  in  the  sciences  bearing  upon  the 
electro-magnetic  telegraph  which  were  made  by  previous  investigators ; 
in  other  words,  that  he  has  falsely  claimed  what  does  not  belong  to 
him,  but  does  belong  to  others.  In  a  letter  dated  April  24th,  1839, 
he  (Mr.  Morse)  thanks  Professor  Henry  for  a  copy  of  his  '  valuable 
contributions,'  and  says,  'I  perceive  many  things  (in  the  contribu- 
tions) of  great  interest  to  me  in  my  telegraphic  enterprise.'  Again 
in  the  same  letter,  speaking  of  an  intended  visit  to  the  Professor  at 
Princeton,  he  says :  '  I  should  come  as  a  learner,  and  could  bring  no 
contributions  to  your  stock  of  experiments  of  any  value.'  And  still 
further :  '  I  think  that  you  have  pursued  an  original  course  of  experi- 
ments, and  discovered  facts  more  immediately  bearing  upon  my  inven- 
tion than  any  that  have  been  published  abroad.' 

"  In  another  place,  Mr.  Morse  says :  '  To  Prof.  Henry  is  unques- 
tionably due  the  honor  of  the  discovery  of  a  principle  which  proves  the 
piiacticahility  of  exciting  magnetism  through  a  long  coil,  or  at  a  dis- 
tance, either  to  deflect  a  needle  or  to  magnetize  soft  iron."  What 
Dr.  Morse  here  describes  as  a  'principle,'  the  discovery  of  which  is 
unquestionably  due  to  Prof.  Henry,  is  the  law  which  first  made  it  pos- 
sible to  Avork  the  telegraphic  machine,  invented  by  Mr.  iNIorse,  and  for 
the  knowledge  of  which,  Mr.  Morse  was  indebted  to  Prof.  Henry,  as 
is  positively  asserted  by  his  associate,  Dr.  Gale.     This  gentleman,  in 


46  HISTORICAL    SKETCH    OF   THE 

a  letter  dated  "Washington,  April  7, 1856,  makes  the  followinfi  conclu- 
sive statement :  .  .  .  '  Tiie  sparseness  of  the  Avires  in  the  mag- 
net coils,  and  the  use  of  the  single  cup  battery  were  to  me,  on  the  first 
look  at  the  instrument,  obvious  marks  of  defect,  and  I,  accordingly, 
suggested  to  the  Professor  (Morse)  without  giving  my  reasons  for  so 
doing,  that  a  battery  of  many  pairs  should  be  substituted  for  that  of  a 
single  pair,  and  that  the  coil  on  each  arm  of  the  magnet  should  be  in- 
creased to  many  hundred  turns  each  ;  which  experiment,  if  I  remember 
aright,  was  made  on  the  same  day  with  a  battery  and  Avireonhand,  fur- 
nished, I  believe,  by  myself,  and  it  was  found  tliat  while  the  original  ar- 
rangement would  only  send  the  electric  current  through  a  few  feet  of 
Avire,  say  15  to  40,  the  modified  arrangement  would  send  it  through  as 
many  hundred.  ...  At  the  time  I  gave  the  suggestions  above 
named,  Prof.  Morse  was  not  familiar  with  the  then  existing  state  of 
the  science  of  electro-magnetism.  Had  he  been  so,  or  had  he  read  and 
appreciated  the  paper  of  Henry,  (American  Journal  of  Science,  Vol. 
19,  p  400,)  the  suggestions  made  by  me,  would  naturally  have  oc- 
curred to  his  mind,  as  they  did  to  my  own.  But  the  principal  part  of 
Morse's  great  invention  lay  in  the  mechanical  adaptation  of  a  power  to 
produce  motion,  and  to  increase  or  relax  at  will.  It  was  only  neces- 
sary for  him  to  know  that  such  a  power  existed,  for  him  to  adapt 
mechanism  to  direct  and  control  it.  My  suggestions  were  made  to 
Prof.  Morse,  from  inferences  drawn  by  reading  Prof.  Henry's  paper 
above  alluded  to.  Prof.  Morse  professed  great  surprise  at  the  con- 
tents of  the  paper,  when  I  showed  it  to  him,  but  especially  at  the  re- 
marks on  Dr.  Barlow's  results  respecting  telegraphing,  which  were 
new  to  him ;  and  he  stated  at  the  time,  that  he  was  not  aware  that  any 
one  had  ever  conceived  the  idea  of  using  the  magnet  for  such  pur- 
poses.    .     .     .     L.  D.  Gale.' 

"It  further  appears,  that  principally  for  the  information  thus  commu- 
nicated, Mr.  Morse  assigned  to  Dr.  Clale  an  interest  in  the  telegraph, 
which  he  afterwards  purchased  back  for  $15,000,  as  appears  from 
the  .  .  .  letter  of  Dr.  Gale.  '  It  thus  appears,  both  from  J\Ir. 
Morse's  own  admission,  down  to  1848,  and  from  the  testimony  of 
others  most  familiar  with  the  facts,  that  Prof.  Henry  discovered  the 
law  or  "principle,"  as  Mr.  Morse  designates  it,  which  was  necessary  to 
make  the  practical  working  of  the  electro-magnetic  telegraph  at  con- 
siderable distances  possible  ;  that  Mr.  Morse  was  first  informed  of  this 
discovery  by  Dr.  Gale ;  that  he  availed  himself  of  it  at  once,  and  that 
it  never  occurred  to  Mr.  Morse  to  deny  this  fact,  until  after  1848.  .  . 
Mr.  Henry  Avas  the  discoverer  of  a  principle,  Mr.  Morse  was  the  in- 
ventor of  a  machine.  .  .  .  But  there  were  obstacles  in  the  way 
which  he  could  not  overcome  until  he  learned  the  discoveries  of  Prof. 
IIcTU-y,  and  applied  them  to  his  machine.  These  facts  are  undeniable. 
They  constitute  a  part  of  the  history  of  science  and  invention.' 
Sears  C.  Walker  deposes : 

"  'In  consequence  of  some  statements  made  by  me,  in  my  official  re- 
ports, relative  to  the  invention  of  the  receiving  magnet,  a  question 
arose  between  ]Mv.  Morse  and  myself  as  to  the  origin  of  this  invention. 
It  was  amicably  discussed  by  Mr.  Morso,  Prof.  Henry,  Dr.  Gale,  and 


COLLEGE    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  47 

myself,  with  Prof.  Henry's  article  .  .  .  before  us.  The  result 
of  the  interview  was  conclusive  to  my  mind,  that  Prof.  Henry  was  the 
sole  discoverer  of  the  law  on  which  the  intensity  magnet  depends  for 
its  power  of  sending  the  galvanic  current  through  a  long  circuit.  I 
was  also  led  to  conclude  that  Mr.  Morse,  in  the  course  of  his  own  re- 
searches and  experiments,  before  he  had  read  Prof.  Henry's  article, 
before  alluded  to,  had  encovmtered  the  same  difficulty  Mr.  Barlow  and 
those  who  preceded  him  had  encountered,  that  is,  the  impossibility  of 
forcing  the  galvanic  current  through  a  long  telegraph  line.  His  own 
personal  researches  had  not  overcome  this  obstacle.  They  were  made 
in  the  laboratory  of  the  New  York  University.  I  also  learned  at  the 
same  time,  by  the  conversations  above  stated,  that  he  only  overcame 
this  obstacle  by  constructing  a  magnet  on  the  principle  invented  by 
Prof.  Henry,  and  described  in  his  article  in  Silliman's  Journal.  His 
attention  was  directed  to  it  by  Dr.  Gale.'  .  .  .  We  quote  a  letter 
to  Prof.  Henry,  from  Prof.  James  Hall,  of  Albany,  late  President  of 
the  American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science  :  '  While 
a  student  of  the  Rensselaer  school,  in  Troy,  New  York,  in  August, 
1832,  I  visited  Albany  with  a  friend.  .  .  .  Our  principal  object 
was  to  see  your  electro-magnetic  apparatus,  of  which  we  had  heard 
much.  You  showed  us  your  laboratory  .  .  .  and  in  a  larger 
room  in  an  upper  story,  some  electric  and  galvanic  apparatus. 
In  this  room,  and  extended  around  the  same,  was  a  circuit  of  wire 
stretched  along  the  wall,  and  at  one  termination  of  this,  in  the  recess 
of  a  windoAv,  a  bell  was  fixed,  while  the  other  extremity  was  con- 
nected with  a  galvanic  apparatus.  You  showed  us  the  manner  in 
which  the  bell  could  be  made  to  ring  by  a  current  of  electricity, 
transmitted  through  this  wire,  and  you  remarked  that  this  method 
might  be  adopted  for  giving  signals,  by  the  ringing  of  a  bell  at  the 
distance  of  many  miles  from  the  point  of  its  connection  with  the  gal- 
vanic apparatus.' 

"  Mr.  Henry  has  always  done  full  justice  to  the  invention  of  Mr. 
Morse.  While  he  could  not  sanction  the  claim  of  ]Mr.  Morse,  to  the 
exclusive  use  of  the  electro-magnet,  he  has  given  him  full  credit  for  the 
mechanical  contrivances  adapted  to  the  application  of  his  invention. 
In  proof  of  this,  we  refer  to  his  deposition,  and  present  also  the  fol- 
lowing statement  of  Hon.  Charles  Mason,  Commissioner  of  Patents, 
taken  from  a  letter  addressed  by  him  to  Prof.  Henry,  dated  March  31, 
1856  : 

"  '  Sir  : — Agreeably  to  your  request,  I  now  make  the  following  state- 
ment. Some  two  years  since,  when  an  application  was  made  for  an 
extension  of  Prof.  Morse's  patent,  I  was,  for  some  time,  in  doubt  as 
to  the  propriety  of  making  that  extension.  Under  these  circum- 
stances, I  consulted  with  several  persons,  and,  among  others,  with 
yourself,  with  a  view  particularly  to  ascertain  the  amount  of  invention 
fairly  due  to  Prof.  Morse.  The  result  of  my  inquiries  was  such  as  to 
induce  me  to  grant  the  extension.  I  will  further  say  that  this  was  in 
accordance  Avith  your  express  recommendation,  and  that  I  was,  proba- 
bly, more  influenced  by  this  recommendation,  and  the  information  I 


48  HISTORICAL   SKETCH   OF   THE 

obtained  from  you,  than  by  any  other  circumstance,  in  coming  to  that 
conchision.' 

''  To  sum  up  the  results  of  the  preceding  investigation  in  a  few 
words,  we  have  shown  that  Mr.  Morse  himself  has  acknowledged  the 
value  of  the  discoveries  of  Prof.  Henry  to  his  electric  telegraph ;  that 
his  associate  and  scientific  assistant,  Dr.  Gale,  has  distinctly  affirmed 
that  the  discoveries  were  applied  to  his  telegraph,  and  that  previous 
to  such  application  it  was  impossible  for  Mr.  Morse  to  operate  his  in- 
strument at  a  distance;  that  Prof.  Henry's  experiments  were  witnessed 
by  Prof.  Hall  and  others,  in  1832,  and  that  these  experiments  showed 
the  possibility  of  transmitting  to  a  distance  a  force  capable  of  produc- 
ing mechanical  effects,  adequate  to  making  telegraphic  signals ;  that 
Mr.  Henry's  deposition  of  1849,  which  evidently  furnished  the  motive 
for  Mr.  Morse's  attack  upon  him,  is  strictly  correct  in  all  the  histori- 
cal details,  and  that,  so  far  as  it  relates  to  Mr.  Henry's  own  claim  as 
a  discoverer,  is  within  what  he  might  have  claimed  with  entire  justice ; 
that  he  gave  the  deposition  reluctantly,  and  in  no  spirit  of  hostility  to 
Mr.  Morse;  that  on  that,  and  other  occasions  he  fully  admitted  the 
merit  of  Mr.  Morse  as  an  inventor ;  and  that  Mr.  Morse's  patent  was 
extended  through  the  influence  of  the  favorable  opinion  expressed  by 
Prof.  Henry. 

"  Your  committee  come  unhesitatingly  to  the  conclusion  that  Mr. 
Morse  has  failed  to  substantiate  any  one  of  the  charges  he  has  made 
against  Prof.  Henry,  although  the  burden  of  proof  lay  upon  him,  and 
that  all  the  evidence,  including  the  unbiased  admissions  of  Mr.  Morse 
himself,  is  on  the  other  side.  Mr.  Morse's  charges  not  only  remain 
unproved,  but  they  are  positively  disproved. 

"  Your  committee  recommend  the  adoption  of  the  following  reso- 
lutions : 

^'•Resolved,  That  Prof.  Morse  has  not  succeeded  in  refuting  the  state- 
ments of  Prof.  Henry  in  the  deposition  given  by  the  latter  in  1849 ; 
that  he  has  not  proved  any  one  of  the  accusations  against  Prof.  Henry, 
made  in  the  article  in  Shafler's  Telegraph  Companion,  in  1855 ;  and 
that  he  has  not  disproved  any  one  of  his  own  admissions  in  regard  to 
Prof.  Henry's  discoveries  in  electro-magnetism,  and  their  importance 
to  his  OAvn  invention  of  the  electro-magnetic  telegraph. 

'■'■Resolved,  That  there  is  nothing  in  Prof.  Morse's  article  that  dimin- 
ishes, in  the  least,  the  confidence  of  this  Board  in  the  integrity  of 
Prof.  Henry,  or  in  the  value  of  those  great  discoveries,  which  have 
placed  his  name  among  those  of  the  most  distinguished  cultivators  of 
science,  and  have  done  much  to  exalt  the  scientific  reputation  of  the 
country. 

"■Resolved,  That  this  report,  with  the  resolutions,  be  recorded  in  the 
proceedings  of  the  Board  of  Regents  of  the  Institution. 

"  The  report  was  accepted,  and  the  resolutions  were  unanimously 
adopted." 

The  above  extract  has  been  made,  because  considerable  has  already 
been  said  upon  the  subject,  and  because  it  was  desired  that  a  more 
extended  knowledge  of  the  facts  in  the  case  should  be  disseminated.  It 
was  also  desired  that  the  truth  should  appear  in  its  proper  light,  in 


COLLEGE   OP   NEW   JERSEY.  49 

reference  to  one  who  has  done  honor  to  Nassau  Hall,  as  well  as  ob- 
tained a  celebrity  in  the  scientific  world. 

President  Carnahan  was  invested  with  the  authority  of  the  college 
some  time  before  the  commencement  in  1823.  During  his  term  of 
office  the  circumstances  of  the  Institution  were  much  changed  for  the 
better ;  the  nvmiber  of  members  in  the  faculty  was  increased,  numer- 
ous revivals  of  religion  occurred,  especially  in  1852,  when  a  large  num- 
ber of  students  made  a  profession  of  religion  and  connected  themselves 
with  the  church.  Some  of  the  buildino;s  also  were  erected  during  his 
term  of  office.  The  practice  of  keeping  a  refectory,  which  existed 
from  the  beginning  of  the  college,  was  laid  aside  entirely  after  the  great 
fire  of  March  10th,  1855.  The  house  occupied  by  the  President  was 
built  at  the  same  time  with  the  main  college  edifice ;  the  vice-presi- 
dent's house  was  built  for  Dr.  Maclean,  father  of  the  present  Presi- 
dent, about  the  year  1800;  the  library  and  philosophical  hall  in  1803; 
and  the  building  now  known  as  the  Old  Refectory,  to  the  east  of  East 
College  in  the  year  1834.  East  College  was  built  about  1833,  and 
West  College  in  1836,  while  the  present  College  Chapel  dates  only  as 
early  as  18-47.  The  new  Halls  of  the  Societies  were  also  erected  in 
his  time,  the  Cliosophic  being  occupied  in  the  fall  of  1838,  and  the  Amer- 
ican Whig  about  a  year  afterwards.  "  In  1839,  the  recitation  rooms 
were  modernized,  and  the  present  Junior  and  Senior  Rooms  added  to 
the  number.  The  Library  Avas  also  extended  into  the  small  room.  In 
1840,  the  large  cannon  was  planted,  with  the  assistance  of  the  stu- 
dents, in  the  Middle  of  the  Back  Campus.  On  January  27th,  1834, 
the  present  system  of  grading  yy^^  adopted.  In  1843  the  commence- 
ment was  changed  from  the  last  Wednesday  in  September  to  the  last 
Wednesday  in  June."  The  small  cannon,  which  now  stands  to  the 
south  of  the  large  one,  was  planted  by  some  members  of  the  class  of 
1859  at  midnight,  on  the  16th  of  October,  1858. 

Although  the  time  of  Dr.  Carnahan's  presidency  was  longer  than 
any  of  the  other  presidential  periods,  yet  it  is  by  no  means  as  full  of 
startling  events  or  unusual  incidents.  It  seems  to  have  been  a  quiet, 
successful,  prosperous  administration.  In  consequence  of  old  age  and 
increasing  infirmities  he  tendered  his  resignation  to  the  trustees  at  the 
end  of  the  collegiate  year  1853.  But  by  their  earnest  solicitation,  he 
continued  to  hold  the  office  for  a  year  longer;  and  at  the  commence- 
ment in  1854,  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Maclean  was  inaugurated  in  his 
stead. 

The  following  is  taken  from  the  Newark  Daily  Advertiser  of 
Thursday,  March  3d,  1859. 

"  We  announce  to-day  the  death  of  Rev.  James  Carnahan,  D.  D., 
late  President  of  Princeton  College,  which  occurred  last  night  at  the 
house  of  his  son-in-law,  William  K.  McDonald,  Esq.,  in  this  city. 
Although  by  his  decease  a  valuable  member  of  society  has  been  rcr 
moved,  expressions  of  regret  are  scarcely  appropriate,  for  he  had 
reached  a  ripe  old  age,  after  a  long  life  of  usefulness  and  Christian 
benevolence.  His  character  was  distinguished  by  mildness  joined  to 
firmness  and  vigor,  his  learning  was  extensive,  his  practical  ability  in 
the  ordinary  affairs  of  life  exceedingly  acute,  and  the  effect  of  his  labors 
1 


50  HISTORICAL   SKETCH   OF   THE 

has  been  most  -Qseful  in  every  department  of  society  with  which  he 
was  connected — as  a  man,  a  Christian  clerfryman,  the  head  of  a 
most  important  educational  institution,  and  an  efficient  co-operator  in 
numerous  schemes  of  benevolent  enterprise.  Of  late  years,  through 
age  and  physical  disabilities  he  has  retired  from  active  pursuits,  and 
of  scarcely  no  other  person  could  it  be  said  more  appropriately  that 
he  has  been  gathered  like  a  shock  of  corn  fully  ripe. 

"The  deceased  was  born  November  loth,  1775,  in  Cumberland  Co., 
Pa.  In  November,  1798,  he  entered  the  junior  class  in  the  College 
of  New  Jersey,  and  received  the  first  degree  in  the  arts  in  September, 
1800.  He  read  Theology  under  John  MacMillan,  D.  D.,  in  Western 
Pennsylvania.  In  1801,  he  returned  to  Princeton  as  tutor,  and  re- 
sio-ned*  his  tutorship  in  the  fall  of  1803.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Pres- 
byter}^ of  New  Brunswick,  which  assembled  at  Baskenridge  in  April, 
l'804:,  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  preached  in  the  vicinity  of  Hacketts- 
town,  Oxford,  and  Knowelton.  On  January  5th,  1805,  he  was  or- 
dained and  installed  pastor  of  the  united  churches  of  AVhitesborough 
and  Utica  in  the  state  of  New  York.  In  February,  1814,  he  moved 
for  his  health  to  Georgetown,  D.  C,  and  opened  a  classical  and 
mathematical  school,  teaching  there  for  nine  years.  In  May,  1823, 
he  Avas  chosen  President  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  was  inaugu- 
rated on  August  5th,  1823,  and  after  a  service  of  thirty  years,  re- 
sio-ned  in  1853,  and  his  connection  with  the  college  was  dissolved 
June,  1854.  He  was  in  different  capacities  connected  with  the  college 
for  thirty-five  years,  viz :  two  years  as  a  student,  tAVO  as  a  tutor,  and 
thirty-one  as  President.  He  was  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  college  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  and  also  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the 
Theological  Seminary. 

"  The  deceased  was  associated  with  many  illustrious  persons  of  the 
past,  most  of  whom  have  disappeared.  He  was  one  of  the  last  of  the 
venerable  men,  who  for  so  many  years  rendered  Princeton  renowTied 
for  its  intellectual  and  moral  greatness.  During  the  long  period  he 
presided  over  the  college,  he  was  unceasing  in  his  devotion  to  its 
interests.  The  improvements  made  during  that  time,  Avere  summed 
up  on  his  resignation  in  1854,  in  the  following  article  prepared  for  our 
columns : 

"  '  In  1823,  when  Dr.  Carnahan  came  into  office,  the  faculty  con- 
sisted of  a  President,  vice-president,  a  professor  of  Mathematics,  and 
two  tutors,  (total  five.)  When  he  retired  in  1854,  the  Faculty  Avas 
composed  of  a  President,  vice-president,  six  professors,  tAVO  assistant 
professors,  three  tutors,  a  teacher  of  Modern  Languages,  and  a  lec- 
turer on  Zoology,  (total  fifteen.)  In  the  annual  catalogue  for  the  year 
1823,  there  Avere  the  names  of  125  students.  In  that  of  1854,  the. 
names  of  254  students.  The  Avhole  number  of  graduates  to  the  pre- 
sent time  (107  years)  is  3390.  Numl)er  of  graduates  before  1823, 
(76  years,)  1680.  From  1823  to  1854,  inclusive,  (31  years,)  1710.  So 
tliat  Dr.  Carnahan  as  President  has  confei-red  the  first  degree  upon  a 
greater  number  of  alumni,  by  30,  than  all  his  predecessors  taken  to- 
gether.' 

"  So  much  for  the  record.    Aside  from  this  numerical  increase  it  may 


COLLEGE  OF   NEW   JERSEY,  51 

be  stated  that  during  the  same  term  of  31  years,  the  East  and  "West 
Colleges,  a  Professor's  house,  a  Refectory,  two  large  and  commodious 
buildings  for  the  accommodation  of  the  Literary  Societies,  and  a  Chapel 
house  has  been  built.  A  house  and  lot  for  the  use  of  a  professor,  and 
seven  acres  of  land,  for  recreation  grounds  and  wash  house,  have  been, 
purchased.  The  Recitation  and  Lecture  rooms  have  been  enlarged 
and  seated,  and  a  Portrait  Gallery  has  been  commenced.  The  Lom- 
bardy  poplars,  which  formerly  disfigured  the  public  grounds  of  the 
college,  have  been  removed,  and  their  places  supplied  with  native  trees 
— the  elm,  the  ash,  the  maple,  and  the  tulip  poplar.  The  library  has 
received  annual  additions.  The  chemical  and  philosophical  apparatus 
has  been  greatly  improved  and  enlarged,  and  the  entire  front  of  the 
college  grounds  has  been  inclosed  by  a  substantial  iron  fence." 

It  has  been  observed  by  another  that,  "  Thus  ends  the  longest 
Presidency  of  the  college,  and  the  longest  of  the  century,  excepting 
that  of  Dr.  Nott  of  Union  College.  His  term  of  office  was  the  most 
prosperous  of  any  in  the  history  of  the  college.  .  .  .  He  sup- 
plied by  his  solid  and  sober  suited  qualities  all  that  he  lacked  in  ad- 
dress and  accomplishments,  his  fault  being  that  he  run  the  apostolic 
injunction  not  to  think  of  himself  more  highly  than  he  ought  to  think, 
beyond  the  letter  of  the  text,  and  probably  beyond  its  spirit." 

There  is  a  slight  mistake  in  the  above  quotation  in  reference  to  the 
time  of  his  death ;  it  occurred  at  eight  minutes  past  seven  on  the 
morning  of  Thursday,  March  3d,  instead  of  March  2d,  as  stated  in 
the  newspaper  report.  His  funeral  took  place  at  Princeton  on  Tues- 
day the  8tli  of  March.  Although  the  day  Avas  cloudy  and  threatened 
rain,  there  was  considerable  attendance  from  abroad.  The  services 
were  held  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church.  The  students  met  in  their 
respective  halls  and  marched  to  the  Church,  the  Whigs  occupying  the 
West  and  the  Cliosophics  the  East  gallery  ;  in  the  pulpit  were  the  • 
Rev.  Drs.  Maclean,  Cooley,  Steams,  and  McDonald.  The  last  named 
gave  out  part  of  the  17th  Psalm  which  was  sung,  Dr.  Steams  followed, 
reading  the  90th  Psalm,  (which  Dr.  Carnahan  recited,  verbatim,  at 
evening  prayers  the  night  prior  to  his  decease,)  and  part  of  the  15th 
chapter  of  1st  Corinthians,  commencing:  "  But  some  man  will  say,  &c." 
After  praying  he  gave  place  to  Dr.  MacDonald,  who  delivered  a  dis- 
coui'se  from  1  Cor.  xv.  13 — 20,  calling  attention  to  the  doctrine  therein 
contained,  which  was  the  foundation  of  Dr.  Carnahan's  hopes  as  well 
as  of  his  ministerial  messages  to  others  ;  and  dwelling  particularly  on 
the  bearing  of  Christ's  resm-rection  on  the  foundation  of  our  faith.  A 
short  biographical  sketch  was  then  given,  interspersed  with  notices  of 
the  speaker's  personal  interviews  with  the  venerable  President  prior 
to  his  removal  to  Newark,  where  he  went  October  29th,  1858,  and 
did  not  return  till  brought  by  sorrowing  friends  preparatory  to  his 
being  consigned  to  the  house  appointed  for  all  living.  The  last  con- 
nected words  which  he  uttered  were,  "  Oh  !  the  blessed  gospel  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

The  services  being  concluded  at  the  church,  he  was  conveyed  to  the 
cemetery  and  committed  to  the  grave  by  the  side  of  his  wife.  His 
resting  place  is  in  a  line  with  the  graves  of  the  illustrious  Presidents 


52  HISTORICAL   SKETCH   OF  THE 

"who  preceded  him,  and  who  with  him,  hy  their  learning  and  virtues, 
have  given  a  name  and  position  to  Nassau  Hall  of  which  she  may 
justly  be  proud. 

The  Rev.  John  Maclean,  D.  D.,  was  inaugurated  as  the  tenth  Pres- 
ident of  the  College  of  Now  Jersey,  on  the  28th  of  June,  1854,  the 
day  of  the  annual  commencement.  "  The  ceremonies  on  this  occasion 
took  place,  in  the  presence  of  the  trustees  and  Faculty,  and  of  a 
large  assembly  of  the  graduates  and  other  friends  of  the  college. 
Rev.  Dr.  John  McDowell,  senior  trustee  of  the  college,  began  the 
exercises  with  the  following  remarks  : 

"  '  We  are  convened  to  inaugurate  a  President  of  this  venerable  and 
important  college.  The  trustees  have  made  it  my  duty  to  introduce 
the  services  on  this  occasion,  with  a  brief  narrative  of  the  events  which 
have  issued  in  the  interesting  exercises,  in  which  we  are  now  to  be 
engaged.  After  the  commencement,  a  year  since,  was  finished,  and 
the  Board  of  Trustees  had  returned  to  their  place  of  meeting,  in  the 
College  Library,  the  Rev.  Dr.  James  Carnahan  unexpectedly  pre- 
sented to  the  trustees  a  written  communication,  resigning  his  oifice 
of  President  of  the  college ;  and  giving  as  his  reasons,  his  advanced 
ao-e,  and  increasing;  infirmities.  The  session  of  the  trustees  was  then 
about  closing,  and  they  had  not  time  to  deliberate  on  the  choice  of  a 
successor.  They  felt  reluctantly  constrained  to  accept  the  resignation ; 
which  they  did,  passing  resolutions  highly  approving  of  the  adminis- 
tration of  Dr.  Carnahan ;  and  at  the  same  time  requested  him  to  con- 
tinue to  hold  the  office,  and  perform  its  duties,  until  a  successor  was 
chosen.     To  this  request  Dr.  Carnahan  kindly  consented. 

"  'At  the  stated  semi-annual  meeting  of  the  Board  in  December  last, 
they  proceeded  to  the  election  of  a  President,  when  the  Rev.  Dr. 
John  ISIaclean,  who  had,  almost  from  the  time  of  his  graduation,  been 
a  valuable  ofiicer  of  the  Institution,  in  several  departments  of  instruc- 
tion, and  for  many  years  its  vice-president,  was  chosen. 

" '  Dr.  Carnahan  Avas  then  requested  to  continue  to  hold  the  office  of 
President,  and  perform  its  duties  until  the  close  of  the  commencement, 
which  has  taken  place  this  day.     To  this  he  consented. 

" '  Dr.  Carnahan  has  occupied  the  presidential  chair  of  this  college, 
longer  than  any  of  his  distinguished  predecessors,  from  the  foundation 
of  the  college.  He  has  now  been  President  thirty-one  years,  and  his 
administration  has  not  only  been  the  longest,  but  also  very  successful. 
The  college  has  grown,  and  prospered  under  it.  The  number  of  stu- 
dents, when  he  commenced  his  administration,  was  about  one  hundred 
and  twenty.  The  whole  number  for  the  year  now  closing  is  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty-six.  At  the  meeting  of  the  trustees  in  December  last, 
a  committee  was  appointed  to  make  arrangements  for  the  inauguration 
of  Dr.  Maclean. 

" '  Agreeably  to  the  report  of  that  committee,  approved  by  the  Board, 
we  are  now  met  for  this  purpose.  The  usual  oaths  reijuired  to  be 
taken  by  the  President  will  now  be  administered  by  the  Hon.  Henry 
\Y.  Green,  Chief  Justice  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey.'" 

The  following  oaths  required  by  the  charter  were  subscribed  by  the 
President  elect ;  and  then  administered  to  him  by  the  Chief  Justice : 


COLLEGE   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  53 

1.  "  I  do  swear,  that  I  will  support  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  ;  so  help  me  God." 

2.  "  I  do  sincerely  profess  and  swear,  that  I  do  and  will  bear  true 
faith  and  allegiance  to  the  government  established  in  this  State,  under 
the  authority  of  the  people  ;  so  help  me  God." 

3.  "I  do  solemnly  promise  and  swear,  that  I  will  faithfully,  impar- 
tially, and  justly  perform  all  the  duties  of  the  President  of  the  col- 
lege of  New  Jersey,  according  to  the  best  of  my  abilities  and  under- 
standing;  so  help  me  God." 

A  true  copy, — E.  F.  Cooley,  Clerk. 

The  oaths  having  been  taken,  the  Chief  Justice  handed  to  Dr. 
IMaclcan  the  keys  of  the  college,  and  thus  addressed  him : — 

"In  the  name  and  by  the  authority  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  I  de- 
liver to  you  the  keys  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  hereby  declaring 
that  you  are  duly  invested  with  all  the  powers,  privileges,  and  prero- 
gatives, and  charged  with  all  the  duties  of  the  office  of  President  of 
that  institution. 

"  We  commit  Nassau  Hall,  its  interests  and  its  reputation,  to  your 
guardian  care,  with  the  earnest  injunction,  and  in  the  confident  hope, 
that  those  powers  will  be  exercised  and  those  duties  performed  by  you 
in  such  manner,  as  shall  most  eminently  conduce  to  the  diffusion  of 
knowledge,  the  promotion  of  virtue,  the  honor  of  our  country,  and  the 
glory  of  God." 

Dr.  Maclean  replied: — "Having just  given  the  most  solemn  pledge 
which  it  is  in  my  power  to  give,  that  I  will  faithfully  discharge  the 
duties  of  my  office,  I  shall  only  thank  you  for  the  very  kind  terms  in 
which  you  have  been  pleased  to  announce  the  confidence  reposed  in 
me,  by  yourself  and  the  other  trustees  of  the  college." 

As  he  left  the  chair  of  the  President,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Carnahan  thus 
addressed  his  successor  : 

"  Mr.  President  : — When  the  interests  of  an  important  public  insti- 
tution are  concerned,  private  considerations  and  personal  feelings 
oug;ht  to  be  laid  aside.  For  this  reason  I  do  not  rise  to  congratulate 
you,  as  perhaps  some  may  think  I  ought,  on  being  placed  in  a  station 
which  your  long,  faithful,  and  efficient  services  have  merited.  My 
object  is  rather  to  express  my  wishes  for  the  prosperity  of  the  college 
and  the  success  of  your  administration.  Sir,  the  interests  of  a  sa- 
cred institution,  which  originated  in  the  piety  and  patriotism  of 
great  and  good  men,  long  since  gone  to  their  rest  and  reward,  are  now 
in  a  great  measure  placed  in  your  hands. 

"  Your  own  experience  and  observation  have  taught  you,  that  to  train 
the  minds,  and  form  the  intellectual  and  moral  habits  of  youth,  who 
are  to  be  the  future  ministers  of  the  gospel,  the  physicians,  the  legisla- 
tors, the  judges,  the  executive  officers  of  our  State  and  national  govern- 
ments, is  no  small  and  insignificant  undertaking.  When  I  call  to 
mind  how  much  the  happiness  or  misery  of  parents  or  friends,  how 
much  the  success  or  failure  of  the  free  institutions  of  our  country, 
how  much  the  purity  or  corruption  of  our  holy  religion,  in  a  word, 
how  much  the  temporal  and  eternal  well-being  of  thousands  yet  unborn, 
depends  on  the  bias  given  to  the  minds  of  young  men  during  their 


54  HISTORICAL    SKETCH   OF   THE 

training  in  college ;  I  am  constrained  to  believe  tliat  your  office  is  one 
of  immense  responsibility ;  an  office  wliich  no  man  wlio  looks  to  his 
own  peace  and  comfort  only,  ought  to  covet.  Its  duties  are  nume- 
rous and  difficult,  its  cares  and  anxieties  unceasing.  And  permit  me 
to  say  that,  in  your  case,  the  responsibility  is  increased  by  the  consi- 
deration that  this  college  has  existed  more  than  one  hundred  years ; 
that  it  has  maintained  a  high  and  honorable  place  among  similar  in- 
stitutions in  our  land ;  that  the  sons  of  Nassau  Hall,  in  public  and  in 
private  life,  have  not  been  inferior  to  those  of  any  other  college  in  our 
country.  In  view  of  these  facts,  the  thoughts  that  this  time-honored, 
and  I  may  say,  God-favored  institution,  may  now  possibly  fail,  is 
painful  and  oppressive.  But  it  cannot,  must  not  fail.  Founded  in 
faith,  with  a  view  to  promote  the  glory  of  God  and  the  best  interests 
of  men,  God  has,  in  a  remarkable  manner,  sustained  and  prospered 
this  college  in  circumstances  the  most  trying.  And  our  prayer  and 
hope  is,  that  he  will  continue  his  favor.  And,  if  in  these  feeble  hands, 
supported  by  yourself  and  other  able  and  honored  coadjutors,  the 
usual  previous  number  of  students  in  the  college  has  been  more 
than  doubled,  and  the  graduates  of  the  last  thirty-one  years  have 
equaled  in  number  those  who  have  received  the  first  degree  in  the 
Arts,  under  all  my  predecessors,  from  the  origin  of  the  college  to  the 
time  I  came  into  office ;  have  we  not  cause  to  hope  and  believe  that 
the  College  of  New  Jersey  shall  live  and  be  a  blessing  to  our  country 
and  to  the  church  of  God,  for  ages  yet  to  come  ?  Be  assured,  sir, 
you  have  my  hearty  wishes,  and  my  most  fervent  prayers  for  the 
prosperity  of  the  college,  and  for  the  success  of  your  adminis- 
tration." 

To    his  address.  Dr.  Maclean  said,  in  reply  : 

"  That  I  had  your  best  wishes,  and  that  I  should  have  your  fervent 
prayers  for  my  successful  administration  of  the  affiiirs  of  the  college, 
I  was  well  aware.  For  this  public  expression  of  your  feelings,  I 
thank  you  most  sincerely." 

After  this,  the  President  elect  delivered  his  inaugural  address,  the 
object  of  which  was,  first,  "  to  give  a  brief  sketch  of  the  origin  and 
design  of  this  institution ;  and,  secondly,  an  exposition  of  the  mode  in 
which  the  instruction  and  government  of  the  college  will  be  conducted 
by  my  colleagues  and  myself."  Having  finished  his  address.  Dr. 
Maclean  said  it  Avas  truly  gratifying  to  him,  and  would,  no  doubt,  give 
pleasure  to  all  present,  that  his  first  official  act,  as  President  of  the 
college  was,  to  announce  to  the  audience,  that  by  a  unanimous  vote, 
the  trustees  had  conferred  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws,  upon  the 
late  venerable  President  of  the  college,  Dr.  James  Carnahan. 

The  exercises  were  then  concluded  with  prayer  and  the  benediction, 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  W.  W.  Phillips,  of  New  York. 

At  the  day  of  prayer  for  colleges,  in  Feb.  1855,  an  influence  began 
to  be  exerted,  which  became  extended,  to  a  groat  degree,  through  the 
whole  institution.  This  religious  feermg  pervaded  the  minds  of  most 
of  the  students,  and  continued  till  tlie  commencement,  in  June,  1856. 
Many  of  the  professed  children  of  God  were  encouraged  and  strength- 
ened, while  a  goodly  number  were  brought  to  seek  the  truth  as  it  is 


COLLEGE    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  55 

in  Jesus.  It  is  believed  that,  during  this  time,  fifty  or  more  were 
brought  to  a  sense  of  their  natural  condition,  and  led  to  a  consecra- 
tion of  themselves  to  the  service  of  God,  by  an  open  profession  of 
faith  in  the  Saviour. 

Since  that  time,  no  unusual  manifestations  of  the  Spirit's  working 
have  appeared,  yet  the  religious  sentiment  is  quite  strong  among  the 
students,  and  it  is  hoped,  that  by  the  blessing  of  God  upon  the  efforts 
of  his  people,  many  who  come  here  careless  in  reference  to  their 
spiritual  interests,  and  who  seek  only  temporal  knowledge,  may  be 
brought  to  consider  their  ways,  as  well  as  be  instructed  in  that  knowl- 
edge which  is  profitable  for  this  life,  and  still  more  for  the  life  to  come. 
Indeed,  it  could  hardly  be  otherwise,  amid  such  abounding  means  of 
grace.  The  idea  has  gained  great  currency  that  the  temptations  and 
snares  of  college  life  are  particularly  dangerous  to  youth.  Now,  to 
an  extent,  this  is  true  ;  but  that  they  are  more  so  than  in  similar  places 
where  boys  and  young  men  are  beyond  parental  oversight,  is  utterly 
denied.  'Tis  true  that  to  those  whose  habits  of  steadiness  and  virtue  are 
unformed  or  unstable,  college  life  is  especially  perilous  ;  but  so  is  every 
other  course  of  life  where  the  supervision  and  government  of  parents 
and  guardians  is  removed ;  such  persons,  if  left  to  themselves,  are  not 
safe  anywhere ;  but  to  those,  on  the  contrary,  who  have  suflicient  de- 
cision to  say  No,  where  evil  presents  itself  in  any  form,  it  is  asserted 
most  unequivocally,  that  college  presents  no  more  difficulties  than 
other  places  ;  in  fact,  far  less.  It  is  believed  that  a  student  who  is  dis- 
posed to  lead  a  religious  life,  and  follow  after  the  fruits  of  holiness, 
instead  of  being  hindered,  will  most  assuredly  be  prospered  and  en- 
couraged in  every  good  word  and  Avork.  Hence,  if  parents  would 
hope  for  their  sons  to  be  kept  from  extravagance,  folly,  and  sin,  while 
in  college,  let  them  teach  them  to  govern  themselves,  to  know  the 
right  and  follow  it,  to  know  the  evil,  to  shun  it,  and  to  be  able  to  re- 
sist the  allurements  of  companions  when  solicited  to  do  wrong ;  let 
them  give  their  sons  a  moral  and  religious  preparation,  as  well  as  an 
intellectual  one,  and  then  with  the  blessing  of  God,  together  with  their 
own  pious  counsels,  they  may  expect  them  to  come  forth  with  a  moral 
and  religious  as  well  as  a  merely  mental  training,  which  shall  prepare 
them  to  stand  out  as  beacons  to  others,  to  do  good  to  themselves,  to 
their  fellow  men,  to  the  church,  and  to  the  world.  Then  only  will 
they  be  fitted  for  the  duties  of  life,  when  they  understand  and  perform 
their  duties  to  their  God.  Many  parents  err  on  this  point.  They 
seem  to  think  that  when  they  have  carried  their  sons  through  a  course 
of  intellectual  training,,  that  their  duty  with  them  is  ended,  that  there 
is  nothing  more  to  be  done  in  preparing  them  for  life's  battles  ;  but 
never  was  there  a  greater  mistake.  This  is  good  as  far  as  it  goes,  but 
it  stops  too  short  of  the  mark.  An  educated  man,  who  is  ignorant  of, 
or  careless  about  religion,  is  little  better  than  a  madman  armed  with 
deadly  weapons,  who  is  as  likely  to  assail  his  friends  as  his  foes.  If 
parents  give  their  children  this  deadly  weapon,  let  them  at  the  same 
time  teach  them  to  level  it  with  the  eye  of  faith  against  the  bulwarks 
of  error,  superstition,  and  sin. 

About  half  past  eight  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  March  10th,  1855, 


56  HISTORICAL   SKETCH    OF   THE 

a  destructive  fire  broke  out  in  tlie  second  storj  of  j^ASSAU  Haxl. 
The  occupant  of  the  room  being  absent  at  the  time,  the  first  intima- 
tion of  the  fire  was  the  rising  of  the  smoke  through  the  ceiling  to  the 
room  above.  It  is  believed  that  nearly  all  in  the  room  was  burned 
before  the  fire  spread  any  farther,  for  as  soon  as  the  door  was  broken 
open  an  immense  volume  of  fire  and  smoke  issued  forth  carrying  all 
before  it.  From  the  want  of  water,  little  could  be  done  to  arrest  the 
flames,  and  by  twelve  o'clock  the  building  was  a  mass  of  ruins.  The 
whole  interior  of  the  edifice  was  destroyed,  and  nothing  left  but  the 
naked,  blackened  walls.  A  great  amount  of  property  belonging  to 
the  students  was  destroyed ;  some  losing  as  much  as  to  the  value  of 
two  hundred  dollars.  A  large  and  valuable  librai'y  also,  owned  by  the 
riiiladelphian  Society,  was  nearly  all  consumed.  Since  that  time  the 
building  has  been  entirely  rebuilt  and  rendered  fire-proof;  it  is  heated 
by  eight  furnaces,  and  is  among  the  best  of  the  kind  in  the  country.  Old 
Nassau  is  now  recovering  from  the  heavy  stroke,  and  stands  as  securely 
as  ever,  though  shaken  once  by  the  storm  of  war  and  scathed  on  two 
occasions  by  the  devouring  element.  Its  condition  is  now  more  pros- 
perous than  ever  before  ;  the  number  of  students  is  nearly  three  hun- 
dred, and  everything  augurs  a  successful  and  glorious  career  for  the 
great  NATIONAL  College  of  the  thirty-three  independent  States  of 
North  America.     [See  appendix  A.) 


HISTORY   OF  THE   PHILADELPHIAN   SOCIETY  OF  NASSAU  HALL. 

Through  the  kindness  of  a  graduate  the  following  facts  have  been 
obtained  and  are  here  presented  with  the  design  of  perpetuating  them, 
and  Avith  the  hope  that  they  may  conduce  to  the  better  and  more  ex- 
tended knowledge  of  the  religious  history  of  the  College. 

"  Among  the  early  religious  associations  formed  by  the  students  of 
this  institution,  was 'the  Nassau  Bible  Society,  which  was  organized 
February  27th,  1813.  Its  object  was  to  aid  in  supplying  the  destitute 
witli  copies  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures.  And  this  enterprise  was  not 
confined  to  the  pious  students  alone  for  support,  but  most  of  those  then 
members  of  the  college  lent  a  helping  hand  in  forwarding  this  noble 
work.  Such  indeed  was  the  zeal  Avith  which  its  members  labored  that 
they  resolved  to  supply  every  destitute  family  in  the  state  of  New 
Jersey  with  a  copy  of  the  Bible.  Here  then,  among  the  students  of 
our  renowned  institution,  originated  an  idea  which  resulted  in  the 
Parent  Bible  Society  determining  to  furnish  every  family  in  the  United 
States  with  the  word  of  God.  On  the  11th  of  June,  1817,  there  was 
also  organized  by  the  students  of  both  College  and  Theological  Semi- 
nary a  Tract  Society,  the  object  of  which  was  to  scatter  abroad  those 
little  messengers  of  pi^ecious  truth,  so  happily  styled  by  another, 
''Manna  for  the  soul."  For  many  years  the  objects  of  both  these 
societies  were  faithfully  carried  out  by  those  who  considered  it  a  privi- 
lege to  be  so  profitably  and  honorably  employed.  But  Avithout  noticing 
at  length  the  good  which  these  societies  accomplished,  it  is  sufficient 
for  our  present  purpose  to  know,  that  their  influence  upon  the  minds 


COLLEGE  OF   NEW   JERSEY.  57 

and  hearts  of  the  students  was  for  good,  and  their  general  tendency  was 
to  unite  the  pious  students  more  closely  in  the  bonds  of  Christian  love. 
In  little  bands  they  assembled  in  private  rooms  and  united  in  prayer 
and  praise  to  that  God  whom  they  had  found  to  be  the  Source  of  light 
and  life  to  their  own  souls,  and  who  had  so  abundantly  blessed  their 
eiforts  to  do  good  to  others.  Impressed  with  the  unity  of  their  wants 
and  desires,  the  idea  at  length  occurred  to  a  member  of  one  of  these 
praying  assemblies,  that  an  association  should  be  formed  in  which  all 
the  pious  students  of  the  college  might  become  members,  and  meet  to- 
gether from  week  to  week  for  social  worship.  Having  made  known  his 
meditations  to  a  few  of  his  friends,  a  meeting  was  held  by  four  young 
men,  viz  :  Messrs.  Peter  J.  Gulick,  Martin  Tupper,  Tobias  Epstein, 
and  James  Brainerd  Taylor,  in  room  No.  21  North  College,  on  Friday 
evening,  February  4th,  1825.  Mr.  Tupper  was  called  to  the  chair,  and 
Mr.  Taylor  chosen  Secretary.  After  having  engaged  in  prayer,  a  pro- 
posed constitution  was  read  and  adopted ;  and  thus  originated  the 
Philadelphia^  Society  of  Nassau  Hall. 

"Its  object,  as  expressed  in  the  first  article  of  its  constitution,  was  to 
promote  personal  piety  and  holiness  among  all  its  members,  and  those 
■with  -whom  they  might  associate.  That  the  founders  of  our  beloved 
Society  were  sincere,  and  deeply  interested  in  what  they  undertook,  is 
evident  from  the  following  extracts  taken  from  letters  written  by  Mr. 
Epstein  to  a  friend  immediately  before  and  after  the  organization  of 
the  Philadelphian  Society.  (It  is  to  be  remembered  that  these  letters 
were  written  without  any  expectation  of  their  ever  being  made  public.) 
'  1823,  December  8th.  My  religious  privileges  are  very  great  indeed. 
There  are  about  seventeen  professors  in  the  College,  and  they  are  very 
much  united  and  like  brothers.'  '1824,  January  20th.  I  hope  you 
will  pray  for  me  constantly,  as  I  need  much  help  in  the  midst  of  temp- 
tation. I  feel  at  present  as  if  I  could  devote  my  all  to  the  service  of 
God.  I  feel  a  great  desire  that  God  may  come  amongst  us  and  pour 
out  his  Spirit  upon  the  College.  We  need  it  much.  Pray  for  us  and 
believe  Ave  may  see  wondrous  things,  many  here  snatched  from  de- 
struction and  death  and  made  to  repose  in  the  Lord.'  '  1825,  Febru- 
ary oth.  I  enjoy  great  religious  privileges  here.  It  is  an  error  that 
we  cannot  enjoy  the  presence  of  God  as  well  in  college  as  at  home.  I 
find  that  the  fault  lies  in  myself  if  I  do  not  have  the  peace  of  the  gos- 
pel reigning  in  my  soul.  I  think  a  college  is  a  preferable  place  for  a 
pious  student,  at  least  one  like  our  OAvn.  Our  Avhole  Faculty  are  pro- 
fessors of  religion.'  '  1825,  July  5th.  We  haA'e  a  little  society  in 
college  called  the  Philadelphian  Society,  in  Avhich  when  we  enter  Ave  re- 
ncAV  our  allegiance  to  Christ  and  faithfulness  to  one  another.  I  am 
one  of  the  founders.  I  am  refreshed  in  the  company  of  my  brethren.' 
Such  AA'ere  the  feelings  and  desires  Avhicli  prompted  the  founders  of  the 
Philadelphian  Society  to  begin  so  noble  a  work.  Nor  did  they  succeed 
without  surmountino;  great  difficulties.  From  the  best  information 
which  can  noAV  be  obtained,  it  is  CAddent  that  from  the  first  the  society 
had  opposers.  Some  on  account  of  its  novelty ;  but  the  most  bitter  op- 
position was  raised  on  account  of  its  goodness.  The  principal  contents 
of  the  constitution  were  as  follows  : 


58  HISTORICAL    SKETCH    OF   THE 

"1.  The  setting  forth  of  the  object  of  the  society,  -which  was,  as  pre- 
viously stated,  to  promote  personal  piety  and  holiness  among  all  its 
members  and  those  with  whom  they  might  associate. 

"2.  That  to  become  a  member  of  this  society  it  was  requisite  that  the 
applicant  should  be  a  professor  of  religion. 

"  3.  Any  member  guilty  of  immorality,  or  in  any  way  bringing  re- 
proach upon  the  cause  of  Christ,  should  be  disciplined  by  society. 

'•  4.  The  society  should  meet  every  Saturday  evening  and  the  meeting 
to  be  open  to  members  only. 

"5.  That  every  month  the  subject  of  Missions  should  be  brought  be- 
fore society,  and  a  collection  taken  up  for  the  benefit  of  the  cause. 

"  6.  Tracts  should  be  distributed  among  all  students  of  the  College  on 
the  first  Sabbath  of  each  month. 

"7.  All  the  members  should  hold  themselves  bound  in  honor  to  make 
no  unnecessary  disclosures  of  any  rules  or  transactions  of  this  frater- 
nity. 

"  The  constitution  has  since  been  so  amended  as  to  abolish  all  secrecy, 
and  permit  the  members  to  invite  their  friends  to  all,  except  business 
meetings,  provided  each  invitation  extended  to  but  one  meeting  at  a 
time.  It  is  worthy  to  be  here  remarked  that  propositions  have  been 
made  to  admit  all  at  all  times,  but  our  society  has  ever  steadfastly  fol- 
lowed the  example  of  our  Saviour  and  his  disciples,  in  retiring  from 
the  world  to  some  private  room,  for  social  converse  and  prayer.  In 
addition  to  the  regular  Saturday  evening  meetings,  the  Philadelphian 
Society  established,  Aug.  1826,  what  is  now  known  as  the  Sabbath 
morning  prayer  meeting,  and  at  a  still  later  period,  it  instituted  the 
Thursday  evening  lecture  in  the  Sophomore  recitation  room.  Thus, 
from  its  origin  till  the  present,  our  society  has  endeavored  to  increase 
its  usefulness,  and  has  left  nothing  undone  which  seemed  conducive  to 
the  carrying  out  of  its  original  object.  The  next  thing  of  importance, 
in  the  history  of  the  Philadelphian  Society,  is  the  destruction  of  its 
records  and  library,  by  the  burning  of  Nassau  Hall,  March  10th, 
1855.  In  that  building,  on  the  fourth  story,  immediately  over  the 
old  Chapel  or  Picture  gallery,  the  society  had  long  held  its  meetings, 
and  kept  its  valuable  library.  On  the  evening  of  the  above  mentioned 
conflagration,  the  exercises  of  the  society  were  just  closed,  when  the 
cry  of  fire  was  heard  from  below.  The  records,  and  nearly  all  the 
library,  were  destroyed.  The  old  constitution  was  replaced  from  the 
memories  of  two  of  the  former  secretaries,  and  is  still  retained  as  the 
constitution  of  the  society.  The  library  has  also,  to  a  great  extent, 
been  restored,  by  contributions  from  the  members,  and  a  library  dona- 
tion from  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication.  In  the  spring  of 
1855*  a  proposition  was  passed,  doing  away  with  the  old  method  of 
giving  the  Missionary  collections  to  the  Presbyterian  Boards  of  For- 
eign and  Domestic  Missions,  and  that  the  society  should  obligate 
itself  to  support  two  heathen  children  at  school  each  year,  provided 
the  amount  rcfiuired  did  not  exceed  ^25  each.  The  passing  of  this 
proposition  caused  mucli  dissatisfaction  among  the  meuibers,  and  after 
an  unsuccessful  trial  of  two  years,  the  old  plan  of  ffivin<!;  the  contribu- 
tions  to  the  Missionary  Boards  was  restored." 


APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX  A. 

The  followiug  iu  the  hand- writing  of  Dr.  Finley  may  be  of  interest. 

The  Process  of  the  Publick  Commexcement  in  Nassau  Hall  ; 
September,  A.  D,  176-4. 

The  Process,  &c. 

The  Trustees  being  at  the  President's  house, — the  candidates  standing  at  the  door ; 
two  and  two,  upon  his  saying, — 

"  Progredimiui  Juveues." 

They  walk — 

1.  The  Bachelor  Candidates. 

2.  The  Masters. 

.3.     The  Tutors,  and  any  ministers  present. 

4.  Tlie  Trustees. 

5.  The  President — the  Governor  at  his  right  hand. 
AH  seated — Prayer  succeeds. 

Praeses  ( capiie  fecfo.) 
"  Auditores  docti  ac  benevoli,  Juvenes  primam  Lauream  ambientes,  cupiunl  vos 
per  Oratorem  salutare  ;  quod  illis  a  vobis  concessum  fiduut.'' 
Ascendat  Orator  salutatorius. 

Distribuenfttr  Tlieses. 
Quoniam,  docti  Auditores,  accurata  disputandi  Ratio  ad  verum  a  falso  secernendum 
pliirimum  valet,  Juvenes  artibus  iniliati,  parvula  quaedam  eorum  in  ea  Specimiua, 
vobis  jam  sunt  exhibituri. 

Prima  Disputatio,  syilogistice  tractanda — 

Thesis  est, 
]\Ientiri,  ut  vel  Xatio  couservetur,  haud  fas  est.     Qui  hanc  Thesin  probare  atque 
del'endere  statui,  ascendat. 

FOSTEK. 

Qui  Thesin  oppugnari  judicavit,  ascendat. 

Primus  Opponens. — Lawrence. 
Quanquam  concederetur  vSermonem  ad  felicitatem  hominum  provehendam  constitu- 
tura  fuisse,  attamen  nou  aeque  nobis  constat  quid  semper  ad  eum  finem  condncit ; 
sed  niagis  credendum  est  Mendacium  nunquam  ad  eum  facere  ;  dum  Exemplum  Yir- 
tutis  omnibus  prodesse  potest. 

Secundus  Opponens. — Smith. 

Determinatio. 

Mentiri,  quacunque  de  causa,  ignobile  et  sua  Natura  pravuni  esse,  res  ipsa  clamat, 
et  ferme  ab  omnibus,  praecipue  Virtutem  colentibus,  conceditur.  Quod  si  omnino 
fas  esse  possit,  Deus  coniprobat ;  et  si  ille  possit  probare,  non  est  uecessario  verax  ; 
sed  impossibile  est  eum  mentiri,  ergo  et  mendacium  probare. 

Xec  ratio  Yeritutis  ab  hominum  Felicitate,  sed  Dei  Rectitudine  pendet  ;  et  quo- 
niam sibi  semper  constare  necesse  est,  non  potest  non  esse  rectus.  Ergo  falsum  ne- 
cessario  iniprobat,  ut  ejus  naturae  oppositum  :  et  vetat  Malum  facere,  ut  quidvis  Bo- 
num  iude  sequatur,  etiam  ut  Xatio  couservetur. 

59 


60  APPENDIX. 

The  following  is  an  English  forensick  Dispute,  which  for  reasons  often  mentioned, 
is  introduced,  viz  : — it  entertains  the  English  part  of  the  audience;  tends  to  the  cul- 
tivation of  our  native  language,  and  has  bceo  agreeable  on  former  occasions  ;  which 
I  presume  are  sufficient  apologies  for  continuing  the  custom. 

The  thesis  is, 

Somnia  non  sunt  universaliter  inania,  et  nihil  significantia. 

Ill  English. 

All  dreams  are  not  useless  and  insignificant. 

Who  undertakes  the  defence  of  this  position  ? — Miller. 

Whoever  has  any  objections  against  what  has  been  offered,  let  him  speak. — 

The  AD  WELL. 

Who  judges  it  fit  to  answer  these  objections  ? — McCreery. 

Determination. 

Although  I  see  no  necessity  of  accounting  for  all  dreams  from  the  Agency  of  other 
Spirits,  any  more  than  to  interest  them  in  the  Reveries  of  the  mind,  when  lost  in  mere 
imaginary  scenes  while  we  are  awake,  without  reflecting  that  they  are  not  realities. 
Yet  that  foreign  Spirits  have  access  to  ours,  as  well  when  we  are  asleep  as  awake,  is 
inconsistent  with  no  Principle  of  Reason.  And  if  some  dreams  cannot  otherwise  be 
accounted  for,  than  by  having  recourse  to  foreign  Spirits  ;  we  must  then  admit  their 
agency  ;  since  there  can  be  no  effect  without  a  cause.  And  though  it  must  be  granted 
that  our  own  Spirits  at  the  same  time  think,  yet  there's  no  inconsistency  in  supposing 
that  other  Spirits  gave  occasion  to  their  thinking  of  some  subjects  rather  than  others, 
as  is  the  case  in  conversing  together  when  we  are  awake. 

What  has  been  matter  of  fact  is  certainly  still  possible.  And  we  know  that  iu  some 
cases  Infinite  Wisdom  chose  to  employ  Angels  to  communicate  divine  instructions  in 
dreams  ;  which  establishes  the  general  doctrine.  And  experience  assures  us  that  im- 
pressions made  on  these  occasions,  are  very  deep  and  lively  ;  and,  as  has  been  observed, 
those  very  dreams  that  come  from  fullness  of  business,  or  other  causes  mentioned, 
show  us  the  temper  of  our  minds,  and  in  that  view  are  useful  and  significJint. 

To  unbend  the  mind  by  an  agreeable  variety,  as  far  as  may  consist  with  the  exer- 
cises of  the  day,  an  English  intermediate  Oration  is  next  to  be  delivered. 
Ascended  Orator  intermedins. 

Thesis  proxime  discutienda,  modo  pene  forensi,  est.  Lux  rationis  sola,  incitamenta 
ad  virtutem  satis  efficacia,  non  praebet. 

Qui  banc  Thesin  primus  defendere  statuit,  procedat. — Woodhcll. 

Qui  primus  opponit  Thesi,  procedat. — Lawrence,  Leake. 

Qui  objectiones  refellere,  et  Thesin  firmare  suscipit,  procedat. 

Determinatio. 

Recte  notatum  fuit,  quod  naturam  peccati  probe  scire  necessariura  est,  ad  virtutem 
rite  aestimandum.  Peccato  enim  ignoto,  odisse  illud  nequimus  ;  et  sine  peccati  odio, 
nulla  datur  virtus.  Et  quoniam  clarum  est,  quod  homines,  luce  naturae  sola  freti, 
ignorarunt  quid  sit  virtus,  et  quales  ejus  consequentiae  in  seculo  futuro  ;  resciverunt 
Deum,  verae  virtutis  exemplar,  nee  non  amorem  et  satisfactionem  Domini  Salvatoris, 
quae  sola  sunt  incitamenta  ad  virtutem  idonea  ;  thesis  valet. 

The  next  TJiesis  is, 

NuUam  veram  virtutem  habet,  qui  omnes  non  habet. 

In  English, — 

He  has  not  one  true  virtue,  who  has  not  every  one. 

Who  undertakes  to  defend  this  position  ? — Tuttle. 

If  any  think  fit  to  oppose  it,  let  him  appear — Hazard. 

Who  judges  he  can  confute  these  arguments, — let  him  speak — Clao(;et. 

Determination. 
That  the  thesis  is  true,  appears  demonstrable  both  from  the  simplicity  of  the  soul 
and  the  nature  of  virtue.  As  the  soul  cannot  be  divided  into  any  parts,  if  one  vice  is 
prevalent  it  possesses  the  soul  entirely,  and  the  whole  principle  of  action  is  vitiated. 
And  as  virtue  is  a  disposition  of  mind  to  whatever  is  morally  good,  and  goodness 
must  be  uniform,  and  of  a  piece,  it  can  no  more  be  dismembered  tlian  the  soul ;  there- 
fore whatever  mixture  of  vice  there  may  be  with  virtue,  one  of  them  nmst  necessarily 


APPENDIX.  61 

predominate ;  for  seeing  that  they  are  perfectly  opposite  to  each  other,  it  is  as  impos- 
sible for  a  person  to  be  under  the  governing  power  of  botli  at  once,  as  for  fire  and 
water  to  subsist  together,  without  the  one's  being  extinguished,  or  the  other  evaporated. 

Virtue  consists  in  the  love  of  God  and  man  :  nor  can  it  be  separated  ;  the  pretence 
is  not  tolerable,  that  a  hater  of  his  brother  should  be  a  lover  of  God.  kow  'tis  cer- 
tain that  one  cannot  love  and  hate  the  same  thing  at  the  same  time,  and  in  the  same 
respect.  There  must  then  be  such  a  necessary  connection  of  all  virtues,  that  one  cannot 
possibly  be  without  all :  consequently  a  single  virtue,  where  any  vice  prevails,  is  but 
a  counterfeit. 

Exercitia  quae  restant  ad  tertiam  horam  P.  M.  postponuntur. 

The  remaining  exercises  of  the  day  begin  at  three  o'clock,  afternoon. 

Orator  hujus  classis  valedictorius  ascendat. 

Exercitia,  quae  a  candidatis  secundi  gradus  praestauda  sunt,  jam  sequuntur. 

Thesis  disputanda  haec  est,  scil : 

Jephtha  filiam  non  immolavit. 

Ascendat  hujus  quaestionis  respondens — Mr.  Kerr. 

Ascendat  primus  qui  hanc  thesiu  veram  esse  negat. 

Deferminatio . 

Fatendum  est,  quod  in  hac  quaestione  docti  in  partes  abeunt.  Sed  ut  theseos 
Veritas  appareat,  considerandum  est  quod  fuit  Jephthae  votum — "  Qui — vel,  quodcun- 
que — exierit  e  foribus  domus  meae,  in  occursum  meum,  erit  Domini,  et,  vel,  offeram 
illud  in  holocaustum."  q.  d,  vel  aptum  erit  ad  sacrificium,  vel  non :  si  prius,  erit  in 
holocaustum  ;  si  non,  erit  Domino  sacrum,  devotura.  Hebraeae  voces  non  aliter  ne- 
cessario  significant :  nam  Vau  saepe  disjunctive  sumitur,  ut  multis  exemplis  patet. 
Adde,  quod  Deus  detestatus  est  humanas  victimas,  et  improbavit ;  quod  cum  sacer- 
dotes  saltem  noruut,  non  verisimile  est  Jephtham  eos  in  tanta  causa  non  consuluisse. 
Nee  parvum  habet  momentum,  filiam  ejus  spatium  deflendi,  non  mortem  sed  virgini- 
tatem,  petiisse ;  cum  enim  dicitur  Jephtha  fecisse  quod  voverat,  sequitur,  et  non  cog- 
noverat  virum. 

Descendant  candidati  houores  hujus  Collegii  ambientes. 

Ad  Curatores. 

Juvenes,  quos  coram  vobis,  Curatores  honorandi  ac  reverendi,  jam  sisto,  publico 
examini,  secundum  hujus  Academiae  leges,  subjecti,  habiti  fuerunt  omnino  digni  qui 
honoribus  academicis  exornareutur ;  vobis  igitur  comprobautibus,  illos  ad  gradum 
petitum,  toto  animo  admittam. 

Eadem  auctoritate  regia,  virum  Davidem  McGregor,  Novangliae,  de  religioue  et 
literis  bene  meritum,  ad  secundum  in  artibus  gradum,"  honoris  causa,  admitto." 

Eadem  auctoritate,  Eeverendum  Nathan  Kerr,  Davidem  Caldwell,  concionatorem 
evangelii,  uecessario  absentem  ;  Reverendum  Johannem  Strain,  hujus  Collegii  alum- 
nos  ;  ad  secundum  in  artibus  gradum  admitto. 

Hoc  anno  etiam,  Jacobus  Thompson,  A.  M.,  Thomas  Henderson,  A.  M.,  Johannes 
Lefferty,  A.  M. 

Forma  constituendi  A.  B. 
Auctoritate,  regio  diplomate  mihi  collata,  pro  more  Academiarum  in  Anglia,  vos 
ad  primum  in  artibus  gradum  admitto ;  vobisque  hunc  librum  trado,  una  cum  potes- 
tate  in  artibus  praelcgeudi  et  docendi,  quotieseunque  ad  hoc  munus  evocati  fueritis  : 
cujus,  hoc  instruraentum,  sigillo  nostri  Collegii  ratum,  testimonium  sit. 
Forma  consiihtendi  A,  M. 
Auctoritate,  regio  diplomate  mihi  collata,  pro  more  Academiarum  in  Anglia,  vos 
ad  secundum  in  artibus  gradum  admitto  ;  vobisque  hunc  librum  trado,  una  cum'  po- 
testate  in  artibus  praelegendi,  publicequo  profitendi  ac  docendi,  quotieseunque  ad  hoc 
munus  evocati  fueritis  :  cujus,  hoc  iustrumentum,  sigillo  nostri  Colleo-ii  ratum  testi- 
monium sit,  °  ' 

In  constituendo,  A.  M.  honorarios,  inseratur  haec  clausula,  scil : — ''  ad  secundum  in 
artibus  gradum,  honoris  causa,  admitto." 
Orator  magistralis  valedictorius. 
Rev.  McGregor. 
Rev.  Nathan  Kerr. 

Dialogue. 
Prayer, 


G2  APPENDIX. 

APPENDIX  B. 

TERMS    OF   ADMISSION. 

Candidates  for  admission  to  the  Fre.-iliman,  or  lowest  class,  are  examined  in  Cipsar's 
Commentaries,  (5  books,)  Sallust,  Virgil,  {Eclogues,  and  six  Books  of  the  yEneid,) 
Cicero's  Select  Orations  contained  in  the  volume  in  IJsum  Delphini.  Mair's  Introduc- 
tion to  Latin  Syntax,  the  Gospels  in  the  Greek  Testament,  Bullions'  or  Felton's 
Greek  Reader,  and  two  books  of  the  Anabasis,  or  other  authors  equivalent  in  quantity, 
together  with  Latin  and  Greek  Grammar,  including  Latin  Prosody  ;  also,  on  English 
Grammar,  Arithmetic,  the  Elements  of  Algebra,  (through  simple  equations,)  Geogra- 
phy, ancient  and  modern. 

Every  student  admitted  to  a  class  higher  than  the  Fresliman,  is  examined  on  all  the 
previous  studies  of  the  class  which  he  wishes  to  enter. 

An  accurate  acquaintance  with  the  studies  required  for  admission  is  indispensably 
necessary,  in  order  to  receive  the  full  advantage  of  the  College  course. 

It  is  found  from  experience,  that  Students  imperfectly  prepared  for  the  classes 
which  they  enter,  are  embarrassed  in  their  future  progress,  and  are  seldom  able  to 
repair  the  want  of  solid  preparatory  instruction. 

To  prevent  disappointment,  it  should  1)e  distinctly  understood,  that  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  preliminary  studies  is  more  likely  to  ensure  admission  and  to  enable  the 
Student  to  improve  the  advantages  of  this  Institution,  than  a  superficial  acquaintance 
■with  some  higher  branches  of  literature  and  science. 

In  all  cases,  testimonials  of  moral  character  are  required  ;  and  if  the  Student  has 
been  a  member  of  another  College,  he  must  bring  with  him  a  certificate  from  the 
President  or  Faculty,  that  he  is  free  from  censure  in  that  institution. 

COURSE    OP    INSTRUCTION. 

The  whole  course  of  instruction  requires  four  years  ;  namely,  one  year  in  each  of 
the  four  classes  into  which  the  Students  are  divided. 

The  Freshman  and  Sophomore  classes  are  instructed  by  the  Professors  of  Ancient 
and  Modern  Languages  and  of  Mathematics,  aided  by  the  Tutors.  The  Junior  and 
Senior  classes  by  the  President  and  Professors. 

The  studies  of  the  several  Classes  are  as  follows  : 

FRESHMAN  CLASS. 

FIRST    TER>r.  SECOND    TERM. 

Livy,  Horace,  (Odes,) 

Xenophon's  Anabasis,  Xenophon's  Memorabilia, 

Archeology,  Latin  and  Greek  Exercises, 

Latin  and  (Jreek  Exercises,  Algebra  completed, 

Algebra,  (ITacklcy's,)  Geometry.  (Playfair's  Euclid,)  cnnnnenccd. 
Biblical  History  and  Geography,  (Cole-     Biblical  History  and  Geography, 
man's.) 

SOPHOMORE  CLASS. 

FIRST    TERM.  SECOND    TERM. 

Horace,  (Satires  and  Epistles,)  Cicero  de  Officiis,  de  Amicitia,  et  de  Se- 

Demosthenes  de  Corona,  nectute, 

Latin  and  Greek  Exercises,  Homer's  Iliad, 

Ratio  and  Proportion,  (Alexander's,)  Plane  and   Spherical   Trigonometry,  with 

Geometry,  (Playl'air's  Euclid.)  completed,       their  applications  to  Mensuration,  Sur- 

Plane  Trigonometry,  veying,  Navigation,  «fec. 

Archaeology,  History. 

History.  Hodge's  Way  of  Life. 

JUNIOR  CLASS. 

FIRST    TERM.  SECOND    TERM. 

Rhetoric,  (Wliately  and  IMair,)  Rhetoric, 

Trench  on  Words.  Differential  and  Integral  Calculus,  (Alex- 

Analytical  (jJeometry,  including  Conic  Sec-      ander's,) 
lions,  (Young's,)  Mechanics, 


APPENDIX. 


63 


JUNIOR  CLASS— (CONTINUED.) 

FIRST   TKRM.  SECOND   TKRM. 

Tacitus,  (Germania  and  Agricola,)  Natural  Philosophy, 

Sophocles,  Juveual  and  Persius, 

Evidences  of  Christianity,  (Alexander's,)   Thucydides, 

History.  Natural  Theology,  (Paley's,) 

Hora3  Paulinas,  (  Paley's,) 
Agassiz  and  Gould's  Zoology, 
Civil  Architecture,  Botany, 
Physical  Geography,  History. 

SENIOR  CLASS. 

FIRST   TERM.  SECOND   TKRM. 

Logic,  (  Whately,)  Moral  Philosophy,  ( Alexander,) 

Intellectual  Philosophy,  (Walker's  Reid,)  Butler "s  Analogy, 

Butler's  Analogy,  Constitutional  Law, 

Natural  Philosophy,  Natural  Philosophy, 

Astrononi}',  Astronomy, 

Chemistry,  Chemistry, 

Geology,  Mineralogy, 

Political  Economy,  Geology, 

Aristotle's  Art  of  Poetry,  Zoology, 

Longinus.  General  Eeview  of  Studies, 

All  the  classes  have  Bible  recitations  on  the  Sabbath,  and  also  a  recitation  iu  the 
Greek  Testament,  or  on  the  Evidences  of  Christianity,  on  ^Monday  morning. 

All  the  Students  are  required  frequently  to  produce  original  essays.  Those  of  the 
three  lower  classes  pronounce  orations,  in  the  presence  of  their  respective  classes. 
The  members  of  the  Senior  Class  deliver  orations  of  their  own  composition,  as  often 
as  the  Faculty  may  direct. 

Lectures. — In  addition  to  the  recitations  of  the  several  Classes,  the  following 
courses  of  lectures  are  delivered  on  the  principal  branches  of  science  and  literature, 
namely,  a  course  on 

Religion,  Natural  and  Revealed,  Presid't.     Logic, Prof.  Atwater. 

Physics Prof.  Henry.  Physical  Geography,...  Prof.  Gcyot. 

Mechanical  Philosophy,  Prof.  Alexander.     Geology, Do. 

Physics, Do.  Roman  Literature, Prof.  Giger. 

Astronomy, Do.  Civil  History, Prof,  Matile. 

Rhetoric Prof.  Hope.  Fine  Arts, Rev.  Mr.  Dod. 

English  Literature, Do.  Chemistry, Dr.  Schanck. 

Political  Economy, Do.  Zoology, Do. 

Esthetics, Prof.  Moffat.         Anatomy  &  Physiology,  Do. 

Greek  Literature, Do.  Mineralogy, Do. 

Intellectual  Philosophy,  Prof.  Atwater.      Botany, Do. 

Moral  Philosophy, Do. 

Gentlemen  not  connected  with  the  College  have  the  privilege  of  attending  the 
above  lectures  by  making  application  to  the  several  lecturers. 

Other  lectures  are  frequently  given  at  the  same  hours  in  which  the  recitations 
are  heard,  and  are  therefore  attended  by  none  except  the  members  of  the  several  Classes. 

Examinations. — Four  public  examinations  take  jjlace  during  the  College  year ; 
cue  in  the  middle,  and  one  at  the  close  of  each  session.  Absence  from  these  examina- 
tions is  found  to  be  very  injurious  to  the  improvement  of  a  student,  and  renders  him 
liable  to  be  placed  in  a  loWer  class.  Reports  respecting  the  behavior,  and  scholar- 
ship of  the  students,  are  sent  to  the  parents  or  guardians  after  each  examination. 

English  Grammar,  Arithmetic,  and  Geography,  being  required  for  admission,  are 
not  included  in  the  College  course  of  instruction  ;  but  in  order  to  secure  attention  to 
these  studies,  indispensably  necessary  in  every  situation  of  life,  the  Classes  are  exam- 
ined on  them  twice  a  year,  and  deficiencies,  if  any  exist,  are  reported  to  the  parents 
and  guardians. 

Public  Worship. — Prayers  are  offered  in  the  College  Chapel  every  morning  and 
evening,  when  one  of  the  Faculty  officiates,  and  all  the  Students  are  required  to  be 
present.  They  are  also  required  to  attend  worship  in  the  Chapel  on  the  Sabbath, 
except  such  as  have  permission  to  attend  service  iu  town. 


64  .  APPENDIX. 

Libraries. — The  College  Library  contains  ten  thousand  six  hundred  volumes,  and 
is  opened  on  Monday  and  Tuesday  of  each  week  for  the  accommodation  of  the  Stu- 
dents. Resident  Graduates  have  the  privilege  of  taking  out  books  upon  tlie  same 
terms  as  Under  Graduates.  In  the  libraries  belonging  to  the  two  literary  societies 
there  are  nine  thousand  volumes.  The  total  number  of  volumes,  therefore,  iu  the 
three  libraries,  is  nineteen  thousand  six  hundred. 

Apparatls. — The  College  possesses  a  valuable  set  of  Astronomical,  Philosophical, 
and  Chemical  Apparatus,  a  well-selected  Mineralogical  Cabinet,  a  Mu?eum  of  Natu- 
ral History,  a  large  collection  of  drawings  for  the  illustration  of  the  lectures  on  Ar- 
ciiitecture,  Natural  Philosophy,  Astronomy,  and  a  full-sized  Mauiken  for  the  illustra- 
tions of  the  lectures  on  Natural  Theology  and  Anatomy. 

Expenses. — The  stated  Hxpenses  of  the  College  each  session,  paid  in  advance,  inclu- 
ding'i'uition, Room-rent, Fuel,  Library-,  Servant's  Wages,  Washing, are  from  $.57  to  $66. 

A.  deduction  of  §3.00  from  the  above  bill  is  made  in  favor  of  those  students  who 
dispense  with  all  attendance  of  servants  in  their  private  rooms. 

The  price  of  Board  varies  from  S2.00  to  84^00.  All  bills  for  board  must  be  paid 
in  advance  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  College  ;  and  paid  in  full  for  the  session.  If  any 
student  change  his  place  of  boarding,  without  the  consent  of  the  President  of  the  Col- 
lege, he  shall  forfeit  the  sum  of  $fy  to  be  paid  to  the  Treasurer. 

No  Student  is  permitted  to  take  a  room,  or  to  lodge  out  of  the  College  buildings, 
unless  all  the  rooms  belonging  to  the  College  are  occupied. 

New  Students  pay  a  matriculation  fee  of  five  dollars,  and  thirty-three  cents  for  a 
copy  of  the  printed  laws. 

Each  member  of  the  Senior  Class  is  required  to  pay  $9  .50  for  a  diploma  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  second  session  of  the  Senior  year,  when  he  pays  the  other  college  bills. 

When  a  Student  is  dismissed  from  College  for  any  cause,  the  whole  amount  ad- 
vanced for  board,  washing,  and  fuel,  from  the  time  of  dismission,  will  be  refunded  to 
the  order  of  his  parent  or  guardian. 

Terms  and  Vacations. — The  College  year  is  divided  into  two  Terms  or  Sessions. 
The  Annual  Commencement  is  on  the  last  Wednesday  in  June,  and  the  first  term  of 
the  next  College  year  begins  the  11th  of  August  and  closes  on  'I'hursday  the  22d  of 
December.  The  second  term  begins  on  Thursday  the  2d  of  February,  and  ends  on 
the  last  Wednesday  in  June — the  day  of  the  Annual  Commencement, 

It  is  particularly  recommended  that,  when  practicable,  all  the  students  spend  their 
vacations  at  home  with  their  parents  or  friends  ;  or  when  this  is  inconvenient,  that 
they  take  boarding  elsewhere  than  in  Princeton.  It  is  found  that  when  a  number  of 
young  persons  are  collected  together  without  regular  occupation  or  study,  the  tempta- 
tions to  idleness  and  dissipation  are  often  too  strong  to  be  resisted. 

It  is  highly  important  that  the  students  should  return  to  College  iu  time  to  attend 
the  first  recitations  or  lectures  of  their  respective  classes,  since  an  absence  of  a  few  days 
at  the  time  when  a  new  branch  of  study  is  commenced,  seldom  fails  to  embarrass  the 
whole  course,  and  in  some  cases  it  is  impossible  to  make  up  the  loss. 

Pi:buc  Exkrcises. — The  Annual  Commencement  takes  place  on  the  last  Wednes- 
day in  June. 

On  the  day  preceding  the  Commencement,  an  oration  is  delivered  before  the  two 
Literary  Societies  by  a  member  of  one  of  them. 

On  the  evening  preceding  the  Commencement,  orations  are  pronounced  by  eight 
members  of  the  Junior  Class,  four  from  each  Hall. 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Alumni  Association  of  Nassau  Hall  is  held  in  the 
Ciillege  Chapel  on  Commencement  day. 

Pkoiiiiutkd  Skcrkt  SoriKTiES. — The  following  resolutions  in  regard  to  Secret  So- 
cieties w(>re  passed,  unanimously,  by  the  Trustees  of  the  College,  at  their  meeting  on 
the  28th  and  2!)th  of  June,  185.5.  ' 

Resolved,  That  with  respect  to  prohibited  secret  societies,  the  Trustees  approve 
of  the  action  of  the  Faculty  in  their  requiring  students  about  to  enter  College,  to 
pledge  themselves  not  to  join  any  secret  societies,  and  that  they  urge  the  Faculty  to 
put  an  end  to  these  secret  societies. 

Resolved,  That  the  President  be  directed  at  the  opening  of  the  next  session  of 
the  College,  to  amiounce  publicly  to  the  students,  that  the  subject  of  prohibited  secret 
societies  was  dflilierately  considered  by  the  'I'rustees,  and  the  Facultv  were,  by  a 
unanimous  vote,  required  promptly  to  dismiss  any  student  known  after  that  date  to  be 
a  member  of  such  an  association. 


APPENDIX.  65 

Fkee  Scholarships. — The  attention  of  Teachers  and  other  friends  of  the  College, 
and  especially  of  students  preparing  for  admission,  is  invited  to  the  provision  famished 
by  these  scholarships,  for  bringing  the  advantages  of  the  Institution  within  the  reach 
of  such  students  as  may  qualify  themselves  to  win  such  distinction.  Under  tliese 
conditions,  the  attainment  of  a  free  education  becomes  an  honor  to  the  bolder,  because 
it  is  au  evidence  of  a  superior  preparation. 

The  competition  fur  such  of  these  scholarships  as  are  at  the  disposal  of  the  Faculty, 
at  the  close  of  tlie  present  term,  or  at  the  beginning  of  the  next,  will  be  conducted  oa 
the  following  principles,  viz  : 

1.  Preference  will  always  be  given  to  applicants  for  the  Freshman  Class. 

2.  The  relative  attainments  in  all  cases  to  be  determined  by  the  Faculty. 

3.  The  successful  competitors  to  retain  their  scholarships  during  their  College 
course,  unless  forfeited  by  neglect  of  study,  or  by  improper  conduct. 

4.  Candidates  must  in  all  cases  present  testimonials  of  good  moral  conduct. 

5.  Any  person  or  persons  contributing  a  Thousand  Dollars  shall  have  the  privilege 
of  giving  a  name  to  such  scholarship  ;  and  in  case  any  contributor  shall  prefer  to  do 
so,  he  may  retain  the  right  to  nominate  the  incumbent. 

6.  Any  Church  contributing  a  Thousand  Dollars,  may,  if  they  desire  it,  place  upon 
that  foundation  the  sons  of  their  ministers;  or,  in  lieu  of  that,  may  nominate  some 
candidate  for  the  ministry,  to  receive  its  avails. 

7.  Any  town  or  district  contributing  one  or  more  scholarships,  may  offer  the 
privilege  of  such  scholarships  as  a  premium  for  superior  attainments ;  provided  always 
that  such  persons  shall  be  fully  prepared,  in  the  judgment  of  the  Faculty,  for  the 
classes  into  which  they  seek  admission. 

8.  The  proceeds  of  all  vacant  scholarships,  to  be  at  the  disposal  of  the  Trustees. 
The  advantages  sought  for,  in  the  founding  of  these  scholarships,  are, — 

1.  To  extend  the  prosperity  and  usefulness  of  the  Institution  by  means  of  an  en- 
dowment which,  besides  strengthening  and  enlarging  its  educational  provisions,  may 
place  its  advantages  within  reach  of  a  large,  important,  and  growing  class  of  young 
men,  who  could  not  otherwise  enjoy  the  privilege. 

2.  To  prevent  the  deterioration  of  education  by  inadequate  provisions,  and,  to 
stimulate  the  preparatory  and  academic  traiinng  of  students,  by  offering  the  privilege 
of  a  free  education,  as  an  inducement  and  reward  to  higher  preparation. 

3.  To  elevate  by  this  means  the  standard  of  liberal  and  professional  training, 
wherever  the  influence  of  the  College  may  reach. 

Persons  desiring  to  found  such  scholarships,  while  not  in  a  condition  to  pay  down 
the  principal,  may  do  so  by  transmitting  sixty  dollars  annually,  or  thirty  dollars 
semi-annually,  to  any  officer  of  the  College,  and  securing  the  principal,  ^1000,  by 
bequest,  or  in  whatever  form  they  may  prefer.  In  such  case,  the  scholarship  would, 
of  course,  lapse  on  the  failure  of  the  parties  to  pay  the  amount  in  question. 

It  is  believed  that  the  founding  of  such  scholarships  will  prove  a  most  efficient 
means  of  promoting  the  interests  of  the  Institution,  and  the  cause  of  liberal  and  pro- 
fessional education  in  the  country.  The  co-operation  of  the  friends  of  Princeton,  es- 
pecially of  the  Alumni,  is  earnestly  solicited,  for  the  purpose  of  enlarging  this  fund, 
Avhether  by  donations  of  their  own,  or  by  seeking  to  call  out  the  benevolence  of  such 
friends,  as  may  have  it  in  their  power,  to  promote  these  great  objects,  by  gift,  or 
bequest. 

Besides  this  form  of  endowment,  a  friend  of  the  College  has  signified  his  purpose  to 
endow  one  of  the  Professorships,  in  the  sum  of  $25,000.  If  this  munificent  example 
should  be  followed,  in  the  case  of  other  leading  Professorships,  the  scope  and  power 
of  the  Institution  would  be  greatly  enhanced  ;  while  its  provisions  would  be  thereby 
brought  within  the  reach  Of  a  much  larger  number  of  students. 

TRUSTEES. 

His  Excellency,  WILLAM  A.  NEWELL,  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey, 

And,  ex-officio,  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

Ret.  JOHN  MACLEAN,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  President  of  the  College, 

And,  in  the  absence  of  the  Governor,  President  of  the  Board. 

John  M'Dowell,  D.  D.,  Philadelphia.         ^Matthew  Newkirk,  Esq.,  Philadelphia. 

William  Shippen,  M.  D.,  Philadelphia.      William  W.  Phillips,  D.  D.,  N.  Y.  City. 


66  .  APPENDIX. 

C.YANREXssELAER,D.D..Burling'ton,lS'.  J.  Wm.  Pexmxgtox.  A.  M.,  Newark,  X.  J. 
James  S.  Green,  A.  M.  Princeton,  N.  J.  Charles  Hodge,  D.  D.,  Princeton,  N.  J. 
Lewis  Coxdict,  M.  D.,  Morristown,  N.  J.  Henry  W.  Green,  LL.  D.,  Trenton,  X.  J. 
LuciusQ.C.  Elmer,  A.  M.,Brirlf>eton,  N.  J.  James  W.  Alexander,  D.  D.,  X.  T.  City. 
*J.Carnahan,D.D.LL.D., Princeton. X.J.  Eli  F.  Cooley,  D.  D.,  Trenton,  X.  J. 
S.  H.  Pennington,  M.  D.,  Xewark,  X.  J.  Isaac  Y.  Brown,  D.  D.,  Bordciitown,  X.  J. 
John  X.  Campbell,  Albany,  X.  Y.  Daniel  Haines,  A.  M.,  Hamburgh.  X.  J. 

David  Magie,  D.  D.,  ElizaJjeth,  X.  J.         J.  C.  Green,   Esq.,  {Elect.)  X.  Y,  City, 
Charles  S.  Olden,  Esq.,  Treasurer. 

FACULTY  OF  ARTS. 

Eev.  JOnX  MACLEAX,  D.  D.,  LL.  D., 

President. 

JOSEPH  HEXEY.  M.  D.,  LL.  D., 

Emeritus  Professor  of  Xatural  Philosophy. 

STEPHEX  ALEXAXDER,  LL,  D., 
Professor  of  Mechanical  Philosophy  andAstronoray. 

Eev.  MATTHEW  B.  HOPE,  i\L  D.,  D.  D., 

Professor  of  Belles  Lettres  and  Political  Economy. 

Eev.  JAMES  C.  MOFFAT,  D.  D., 

Professor  of  Greek. 

Eev.  LYMAX  H.  ATWAl^ER,  D.  D.. 

Professor  of  Mental  and  Moral  Philosophy. 

AEXOLD  GUYOT,  LL.  D., 
Professor  of  Geology  and  Physical  Geography. 

GEO.  MUSGEAYE  GIGEE,  A.  M., 
Professor  of  Latin. 

Eev.  JOHX  T.  DUFFIELD,  A.  M., 

Professor  of  Mathematics. 

J.  stillwell  schaxck,  a.  m.,  ^l  d., 

Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Lecturer  on  Zoology. 

Eev.  WILLIAM  A.  DOD,  A.  M., 

Lecturer  on  the  Fine  Arts. 

HEXEY  C.  CAMEEOX,  A.  M., 

Adjunct  Professor  of  Greek. 

IIEXRY  M.  BAIED,  A.  ]\l., 
Tutor  in  Greek,  and  Teacher  of  French. 

JAMES  McDOUGALL,  Jr.,  A.  M., 

Tutor  in  Mathematics. 

D.  S.  GEEGOEY,  A.  B., 

Tutor  in  Belles  Lettres. 

GEESHOM  H.  XIMMO,  A.  B., 

Eegister. 

CAEL  LAXGLOTZ, 

Teacher  of  German. 


DATE  DUE 

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GAYLORD 

PRINTED  IN  U    S    A. 

